Injury Prevention Program
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Project
The City of Berkeley Injury Prevention Program aims to reduce unintentional injuries related to bicycle and pedestrian collisions for children in Berkeley and offers programs to Berkeley schools as well as community based programs for youth.
**A partnership between City of Berkeley Public Health Division Injury Prevention Program and Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools**
City of Berkeley Public Health Division
1947 Center Street, Second Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
Map to Public Health Division
(510) 981-5309 (Phone) (510) 981-5395 (Fax) 510-981-6903 (TDD)
MBrown-Machen@cityofberkeley.info
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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All of the following projects offered by City of Berkeley Injury Prevention Program are entirely free of charge to Berkeley Public Elementary Schools and after-school programs. Some programs are available on a first come, first served basis.
To schedule any of the following programs, contact:
Marcia Brown-Machen
Injury Prevention Program Manager
(510) 981-5309
MBrown-Machen@cityofberkeley.info
Safety Workshops
The City of Berkeley offers safety workshops that incorporate fun, interactive learning games, with the goal of teaching students safe walking and rolling habits. Workshops are offered to any elementary school classroom or after-school program. The K - 2nd grade workshop covers pedestrian safety and the 3rd-5th grade workshop covers bicycle, scooter and skateboard safety. 3rd-5th grade workshops include free helmets (or helmet vouchers) for all students.
Berkeley Family Festival & Bike Rodeo
Each summer, the City of Berkeley hosts a city-wide health and safety festival at San Pablo Park in south-west Berkeley. The event includes a safety town and obstacle course, slow races and boulevard tours, route mapping, the Bike Blender to make smoothies, safety workshops, bicycle maintenance, health screenings, raffle, information tables and much more! All children that participate in the festival receive a free helmet.
Bicycle Helmets
Every student who participates in a bicycle safety workshop or the Berkeley Family Festival & Bike Rodeo receives a free bicycle helmet! Helmets are also available to the public by calling the Berkeley Public Health Department. How to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet
Walk and Bike to School Days
Our programs co-coordinate International Walk to School Day each October, hosting events at any interested Berkeley Elementary School. Children who come to school via any alternative form of transportation receive prizes and incentives. We also coordinate Bike to School Day in May. Safe Routes to School can support schools in hosting monthly Walk and Roll to School Days to encourage regular walking and rolling to school.
City of Berkeley Injury Prevention programs are funded by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Safe Routes to Schools Alameda County promotes walking and biking to schools and within communities and offers the following programs to Berkeley schools. To schedule any of the following programs, contact: Susan Silber, Education Coordinator, 510-740-3150 x332, susan@transformca.org
“A Breath of Fresh Air” School Puppet Assembly
Safe Routes to Schools Alameda County is offering performances of the puppet show, “A Breath of Fresh Air: The Walk and Roll Solution” performed by The Big Tadoo Puppet Crew to elementary schools in the 2008-2009 school year. The 30-min show blends imaginative puppets and music into a fun and educational story about all the elements of the journey to school (safety, health, physical activity, discovery and decision-making). The puppet show is available as an assembly to grades K-2 and 3-5.
Walk Audit
Conducted by an experienced planning and design firm, this activity engages parents, school staff, Public Works representatives, traffic safety officers and other community leaders in identifying needed improvements for safer walking and biking routes to school.
Parent Training Sessions
Pedestrian safety workshops provide parents, after school providers and guardians with a background on how kids see differently than adults and how to model, coach and observe children's pedestrian habits. The brief workshop is ideal for PTA meetings. The Family Cycling Clinic is designed to give the next generation of cyclists (and their parents) the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today's roads. This three-hour weekend workshop takes children and their parents through a series of activities on their bikes while on a playground, then the whole group goes for a brief neighborhood ride to practice their skills.
Safe Routes to Schools Teachers Guide
This curriculum provides teachers in grades K-5 with easy-to-teach standards-based lesson plans that include the themes of pedestrian safety, community, health and the impact of travel on climate change. Schools can schedule a brief presentation during their staff meeting that introduces the curriculum and provides each grade level with one Teachers Guide.
Walking School Bus Training and Launch
This training equips parents with everything they need to launch a Walking School Bus Program, including vests, stop signs, whistles, first aid kits and pedestrian safety training as well as logistical organization and support. The Walking School Bus is a proven and tested method using the simple strategy of encouraging children to walk to school in groups supervised by parents or other adults.
Who is the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program for?
All Berkeley elementary and middle schools, after-school programs, and community-based programs for youth
Cost for Services: FREE
Languages Spoken: English
Additional Information
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Tips