School’s in! Safety tips for parents, students and drivers to keep in mind
With the new school year underway, it’s important for everyone — parents, students and drivers — to stay alert and put safety first. You’ll notice more kids walking, biking, skateboarding and commuting around town, which can lead to heavier traffic and congestion during school hours. Plan ahead and give yourself a little extra time to reach your destination.
Police officers may be present in school zones to assist with pedestrian safety and help ensure students are safely dropped off and picked up.
Children should be familiar with safe routes to school and have a designated meeting spot with their parents or guardians for after-school pickup. To support safe travel, Menlo Park offers a Safe Routes to School program. The Citywide walk and roll map, tips for staying safe near train tracks, and other resources for students and families are available on the Safe Routes to School page.
As a reminder: California law requires anyone under 18 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or skates. Bicyclists must travel in the same direction as vehicle traffic and follow all road signs and signals. It’s also essential to obey school crossing guards and avoid distractions by putting away handheld devices while walking or riding.
Both the Menlo Park City School District and the Las Lomitas School District prohibit students from bringing Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters, and e-boards onto their campuses. Read MPCSD policy online.
InMenlo file photo (c) 2022
charles reilly August 25, 2026 at 4:04 pm
well, yesterday, a teenage cyclist rode his bike toward me – he was going the wrong way; on the wrong side of the street, in the right- hand turn lane. So my “safety tip” for him is to “get a clue!”