P.A.C.E.

(Parent And Children Education)
. . . learn the safe way to travel Glendale.

Students at William Jack Elementary received lightweight
backpacks as part of the P.A.C.E. program.

During the 2007-2008 school year four City of Glendale schools piloted a new program. The program was created to encourage students to walk and bike to school. During school traffic observations unsafe behavior was seen displayed by students and parents (i.e., parents waving students to cross the road in-between parked cars, bicyclists riding without helmets, not using crosswalks and bike lanes appropriately, etc). With these issues in mind the City of Glendale Transportation Education Division created a program to assist schools that will promote health, decrease air pollution, traffic congestion, and create a safer environment for students traveling to and from school.

Four schools in the City of Glendale participated in the program: Arrowhead in the Deer Valley School District and Desert Spirit, Discovery, and William Jack in the Glendale Elementary School District. Every Wednesday was highlighted as a BOW WOW (Bike on Wednesday, Walk on Wednesday) Day to encourage walking and biking to school. Each month of school had a safety theme with information and tips. Themes focused on “Being Safe and Being Seen.” Every day during morning announcements children would learn safety tips about the theme for each month. To emphasize each monthly theme, students received items to enforce the safety message. We appreciate the support from each of the schools and the thank you letters from the students. This has been very successful and we look forward to another school year of BOW WOW.

Monthly Themes:

• September - School Bus and Valley Metro Safety Education and the importance of reflectives. Students received reflective shoe laces.
• October - International Walk and Bike Month. October 3rd was the International Walk and Bike Day. This day was devoted to emphasizing the importance of walking or biking to school. Students received a reflective BOW WOW bone.
• November - Would Your Bike Pass the Test? This theme promotes the importance of bicycle maintenance to promote safe riding. Students received tire gauge key chains.
• December - Clean Air. During the winter months air pollution tends to be higher. Students received recyclable car trash bags.
• January - Know Your Street Signs, Signals, and Crosswalk guidelines. This month was focused on the importance of knowing street signs and signals represented for pedestrian safety. Crosswalk safety awareness is reinforced. Students received a blinking light arm band.
• February - Healthy Heart Benefits of Walking/Biking. February is known as Heart month and what better time than this to promote the benefits of walking/biking for a healthy heart. Students received heart shaped band aids containers.
• March - Helmets, Pads and Backpacks. This is a good month to promote wearing bicycle helmets which have been properly selected and fitted. The importance of wearing or carrying a back pack correctly can be taught so the student won’t have an accident due to dangling straps and the importance of reflectives on a backpack. Students received lightweight backpacks (see photo at the top of page).
• April - Precautions for Summer Walking or Biking. During the summer months students will be walking or riding their bikes more often and constantly in the sun. This month focuses on keeping hydrated, wearing sunscreen and obeying traffic rules when walking or riding. Students received spray sunscreen.
• May - Celebration of a Year of Walking and Biking to School. It’s a celebration at the end with cookies and sunglasses.