Bicyclists, walkers need to play it safe | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

As we reach the third month of school, the bus drivers of the Bainbridge Island School District would like to take this opportunity to note some safety issues they observe each day along with some suggested solutions.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are not making themselves clearly visible to drivers. Riders and walkers, please make sure you are wearing colors that can be easily seen in the rain, fog and/or dark. Cyclists, please use your headlamps in the same situations.

Bicyclists are passing school buses on the right when buses are stopped to pick up or drop off students. When buses are stopped to pick up or drop off students, vehicles, including bicycles, are required to stop. Please don’t endanger our students by passing a stopped school bus.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are entering crosswalks without paying any attention to traffic. It takes much longer to bring a bus to a stop than to bring a car to a stop. When buses must brake suddenly, students on the buses can be injured. Please do not enter a crosswalk unless vehicles approaching the crosswalk have ample time to stop. Parents, please work to teach your children who are walking or riding bicycles to wait until traffic has stopped before entering the crosswalk.

We appreciate your assistance in keeping our students safe.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

 

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.