Since 2009, the City of New Westminster has endorsed school travel planning and has been committed to building a safe, accessible, and healthy community.
Parents, consider alternatives to driving your kids to school:
Walk or Bike
Carpool or walkpool with friends or neighbours
Drop-off further from school
Have your older children use transit
Walking School Bus
A Walking School Bus is an organized group of students who walk to and from school each school day under the supervision of a trained adult walk leader(s), following a pre-determined route with designated stopping points along the way to pick up and drop off students.
There are currently three Walking School Bus routes operating in New Westminster: Two routes to/from Ecole Qayqayt Elementary School, and one route to/from Queen Elizabeth Elementary School and Queensborough Middle School. More information can be found at Society for Children and Youth BC.
School Travel Routes
The maps identify features around each school to help parents and students determine their preferred travel route. These features include marked crosswalks, traffic signals, bus stops, bus routes, sidewalks, bike routes, pedestrian overpasses, SkyTrain, and a 400m buffer to represent a 5-minute walking radius.
Be alert! If you are a driver, expect school zones to be busy and allow more time to travel through them. Watch for less safety-conscious drivers around schools!
General driving tips:
Don't turn around in a driveway — it is dangerous for pedestrians and other vehicles.
Do not park or stop in disabled parking spaces.
Obey posted speed limits (school zone speed limit is 30km/hr).
Park thoughtfully, in legal designated spots and fully pulled up to the curb.
Make even one less car trip to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
