Bike + Walk safe
Bike Safe Programs and Resources
Bikeology: Bicycle Education Program
Thanks to a 2015 grant from Alaska’s Safe Routes to School program and support from partners including the Anchorage School District Health and Physical Education Department and Bike Anchorage, Center for Safe Alaskans was able to purchase a fleet of 35 bikes to be used to teach the Bikeology curriculum in ASD Physical Education classes.
League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling
Interested in riding more safely and confidently? Thanks to a 2014 grant from Safe Routes to School and support from the Municipality of Anchorage, Safe Alaskans staff and others in the Anchorage community have been trained as League of American Bicyclists’ Instructors. The League is the only education program to offer a nationwide cycle instructor certification program. If you are interested in participating in a Smart Cycling course or just want a quick refresher on the rules of the road, please contact us. For more information about the League of American Bicyclists, please visit their website.
Be Safe, Be Seen: promoting lights and reflectors for nighttime riding
As kids, most of us were told to be home before dark. This is good advice for parents to give to children. But if we follow that advice in Alaska, as adults, we would spend very little time outdoors in the winter. There are things we can do to be safe and still play outside in the dark. Reflectors and lights will increase our visibility
Bike counts
At Center for Safe Alaskans, we want to know how many people are biking in Anchorage. Getting a count of riders is an elusive task, but it matters when we are trying to determine if injury rates are decreasing, whether our efforts to promote cycling are successful, and where the greatest infrastructure improvements are needed. The challenges include funding and resources.
Bike to Work Day: Annual Event to Promote Bike Commuting
Planning for BTWD begins after the turn of the year. Multiple volunteer groups are involved with everything from hosting treat stations at busy bike intersections, securing prizes for riders, counting participants and helmet users, promotion, Tshirt designs, and much more. Information about past events can be found at the Municipality of Anchorage’s website. BTWD also has a Facebook Page with information about past events as well as upcoming cycling activities in Anchorage.
We are currently exploring how other areas of the country and world count cyclists. The next steps will involve coordinating efforts between the State of Alaska, City of Anchorage and Center for Safe Alaskans.
Walk Safe Resources
10 Safety Tips for Pedestrians
- Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers
- Be predictable. Stay off freeways and restricted zones. Use sidewalks where provided. Cross or enter streets where it is legal to do so.
- Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
- Where no sidewalks are provided, it is usually safer to walk facing road traffic.
- Be wary. Most drivers are nice people, but don’t count on them paying attention. Watch out – make eye contact to be sure they see you!
- Alcohol and drugs can impair your ability to walk safely, just like they do a person’s ability to drive.
- Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
- Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
- Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
Winter Walking
We encourage the use of appropriate footwear and ice grippers to tackle the tough Alaska winter walking conditions. Local Alaska business Skinny Raven offers to put studs in your shoes for a small fee. No slips, no falls with studded shoes. Stud services are $10 and always free for those 60 and over.
Helpful Links
For more information about pedestrian safety, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pedestrian Safety website.
For resources about children and pedestrian safety, visit the National Center for Safe Routes to School, as well as their Walking School Bus website.
Participate
Center for Safe Alaskans hosts many events, trainings and programs that support our goal to prevent injuries, improve safety and promote well being. Through our activities we strive to promote best practices in the fields of youth development and injury prevention to help build a safer, stronger and more resilient community in Anchorage.
Donate
Center for Safe Alaskans and the Anchorage Youth Development Coalition depend on the generosity of donors like you.
Clicking the donate button will take you to the Alaska Injury Prevention Center and Anchorage Youth Development Coalition’s PayPal account page.
Join Us
Center for Safe Alaskans supports organizations through advocacy, resources, networking, and training to help prevent injuries, improve safety and promote well-being. Together, we are creating a community around professional youth work, injury prevention and safety in our broad and inclusive coalition. We’re able to do this because of organizations and individuals like you.
Contact Us
Center for Safe Alaskans
4241 B Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 929-3939
E-mail: info@safealaskans.org
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