Dear AUSD Community, 

In response to concerns regarding safety when traveling around schools, we would like to reiterate that this remains an ongoing priority and a shared concern between the District and the City. City staff from the Police Department continue to patrol transportation routes around schools on a regular basis whenever available pending calls for emergency service within the City. 

The City also continues to contract and coordinate for crossing guard services to help further facilitate safe crossing to schools.  In addition, the District and the City worked collaboratively in advance of the school year to increase signage and other resources around our schools to help encourage safe traveling behavior including safe drop-off zones at each school – particularly our elementary schools where drop off and pick up can be a very busy time of day. 

Most importantly, we would like to remind all members of the community traveling near schools to please slow down, practice safe driving behavior, and that students should be dropped off safely at all times. Please also take some time to refresh on the following safety guidance to help provide safe travel to and from schools: 

Safety Tips When Traveling Near Schools

It is extremely important that anyone traveling near schools take proper safety precautions. Please practice these safety tips, whether traveling by foot or on wheels.

Traveling Near Schools During Drop-off and Pick-up Hours

• Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students. Do not double-park or block driveways.

• For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks when available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals.

Safe Driving

• Drivers should be extra cautious on the roads. Look carefully for pedestrians and bicyclists. Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits, at all times. Pedestrians have the right of way at any crosswalk or intersection, so yield and be prepared to stop.

• Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to pedestrians too. Avoid blocking the crosswalk when making a right-hand turn.

• Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.

• Enter and exit driveways and alleys very carefully.

• Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path.

• When parked on the street, check for other drivers and cyclists before opening doors.
  
  

Safe Cycling

• Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet and check your equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

• When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn.

• Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

• Stay alert and avoid distracted riding.
  
  

Safe Walking

• Only cross the street at corners or crosswalks. Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.

• While you should do whatever you can to increase your visibility, do not walk into a crosswalk assuming that the oncoming vehicle can see you. It’s best to wait to be sure the vehicle stops.

• Walk on the sidewalk if one is available. When on a street with no sidewalk, walk on the side facing traffic.

• Stay alert and avoid distracted walking.

In the event of an emergency or erratic driving behavior, please dial 911. The Albany Police Department can also be reached at (510) 525-7300 for non-emergencies.