Be Safe. Ride smart.
School’s back! This means excited children will be on the streets, roadways, pathways and sidewalks walking and wheeling to class. They are counting on us to slow down and look out for them. Please take extra care when driving through playground zones and near schools.
This also means routes are busier and more congested. School buses are picking up children, kids on bikes are trying to beat the bell, and rushed adults are doing school drop-off before and after work. There’s never been a more important time for people driving to slow down and look out for others.
This fall and throughout the year, we are reminding drivers to slow down, park smart and give space. As the summer season transitions into a new school year, drivers need to prioritize safety, especially near schools where increased activity poses potential risks for both drivers and children.
Be safe. Slow down.
Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in the use of e-Bikes and e-Scooters on Calgary pathways.
While this is a welcome change, it also brings with it some growing concerns around safety for those riding electronic devices and other pathway users.
To keep everyone safe, The City wants to remind Calgarians about the rules around riding bikes, e-Bikes and e-Scooters on our pathways.
Parking around schools
Familiarize yourself with your school’s pick-up and drop-off procedures. The kids are counting on us to park smart. Please do not block crosswalks; parking or stopping too close to crosswalks is dangerous for pedestrians. People crossing the street cannot easily see or be seen by traffic.
Double parking creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians and drivers. When you choose to double park, even just for a minute, our kids are at risk of getting hurt. Drive carefully and watch out for children.
When driving near a school, remember:
- Traffic congestion near schools is problematic. It can be faster and safer to park a block or two away and walk part of the way to school or to carpooling.
- Do not double park – it is illegal and dangerous as it blocks visibility.
- Park a minimum of five metres away from a crosswalk to ensure children can see and be seen by traffic. Children need to see around our vehicles and they need to be seen by others.
- Do not park in school bus zones or in City bus stops
- Do not park within 1.5 metres of a driveway, garage, or alley.
- Watch for and obey all signage in place, such as hug & go zones, no parking and restricted drop off areas at your student’s school.
For more information, visit Calgary Parking.
School bus safety
Always watch for children around a school bus when it is stopped, as children can be unpredictable and unaware of the risks. They are counting on us to pay attention. Slow down, be prepared to stop and don’t follow too closely behind. Do not pass a school bus, as it is likely stopped to load and unload children.
Amber flashing lights: School buses use flashing amber lights to alert passing motorists that the bus is slowing down and preparing to load or unload children.
- If you approach a school bus with its amber lights flashing, you may pass with caution. Remember to watch for pedestrians and be prepared to stop.
Red flashing lights: School bus operators are prohibited from using their red flashing lights on most Calgary roads.
- They are required to use them in rural areas when stopping to load or unload children.
If you see a school bus with its red lights flashing, you must stop regardless of your direction of travel, unless you’re on the opposite side of a divided road.
Playground zone safety
Playground zones warn motorists to take extra caution and reduce speed when driving near playgrounds and schools. The kids are counting on us to keep them safe. When driving through a playground zone, remember:
- Children do not perceive traffic the same way adults do, so extra caution is needed.
- The maximum permitted speed in playground zones is 30 km/h during zone hours.
- The zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day of the year.
- You may not pass another vehicle or person cycling within the playground zone during this time.
Pathway safety
With school starting in September and the return of more typical commuting volumes, now is a good time to remind kids how to move safely on pathways.
Everyone using the pathway system, pedestrian and wheeled users alike, can stay safe by:
- Remaining to the right of the line except to pass
- Leaving a minimum of one metre between yourself and the person you are passing.
- When approaching from behind, make yourself heard by using your bell and/or voice to announce, “passing on your left.”
- Only pass when there are no oncoming users and never pass on blind corners or in underpasses.
- Dogs are required to be on leash while on City pathways, (even in “off leash” areas). Try to keep dogs to the right side so as not to interfere with other pathway users.
Free traffic safety resources
Did you know the City of Calgary has free traffic safety education resources?
The Mobility Safety Education Toolkit has been created to highlight and encourage traffic safety conversations with school aged children. We invite parents, guardians, and educators to talk with children about how to stay safe while moving on city streets. Just as teenagers must learn and practice how to drive with the support of a parent/adult, children also need help learning and practicing how to walk or wheel safely. The toolkit can be found at calgary.ca/streetsafekids
The City of Calgary Pathways & Bikeways Map can help people become more familiar with streets and pathways in their neighbourhood. You can find a copy of the newly updated 2024/25 map at most City facilities, Calgary Co-ops, AMA locations and bike shops. A digital version of the map can be found at maps.calgary.ca/pathwaysandbikeways