Bikes Unsafe as Student Transit? School Board Votes to Revisit Ban

Updated at 4:20 p.m. April 13, 2012

To Gwen Kesler, the South Bay Union School District’s ban on riding bikes to campus violates her family’s freedom.

“Choosing how my kids get to school is a civil right and it is a right I am not willing to give up,” Kesler told the school board Thursday night.

Trustees took that appeal to heart as they voted 5-0 to revisit current policy, which prohibits student transit by skateboards, bikes, horseback riding, Razr scooters and motorcycles.

All are labeled unsafe activities, according to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5142. (See attached PDF.)

Kesler was one of more than a dozen speakers at the Elm Avenue education center urging the board to allow biking.

SBUSD parent Annette Frith first requested the in February. After trustees debated the idea, the matter was shelved when the motion failed on a 3-2 vote.

Trustees Elvia Aguilar, Chris Brown and Melanie Ellsworth voted in February to retain the ban, citing concerns for student safety and the potential for bicyclists to veer into or fall over in traffic lanes.

On Thursday, schools Superintendent Carol Parish asked the trustees to reconsider the matter at the recommendation of the district’s legal counsel.

“This brings us back to zero,” Parish said.  “You as a board will need to take a look at this policy from the beginning and decide whether to give direction to staff regarding student safety as it relates to bike riding to and from school.”

Juan Antonio Ramirez, Walk San Diego project coordinator and a district parent of two, said policy examples and legal documentation have already proven bike-to-school programs can be carried out successfully.

“With a well-written policy, the school district will codify what you expect from students, parents, and staff,” Ramirez said, noting references could be made to the Vehicle Code and could also be targeted by age or school grade. 

“Parents allowing their children to ride their bikes to school could sign a release of liability,” he said. “There are also educational materials that could be made available to students and parents to help create awareness on how to prevent accidents and improve safety.”

Parents Jennifer Jackson and Emily Young also asked the board to reconsider the bike ban, citing documents that state it can improve children’s intelligence.

“There is a direct correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement,” Jackson said. 

Young noted that the National School Boards Association, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association were among groups supporting more livable and walkable communities.

“When you have more cars, there tend to be more vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents,” Young said.  “The other thing to be concerned about is childhood obesity. This is the first generation of children that may not live as long as their parents.”

Members of the board agreed revisiting the policy was worthwhile.

“I think a lot of good information was presented here tonight,” Trustee Inzunza said. “I think we have a lot of reasons to give this another look.”