Burr School strongly encourages parents and children to walk and bike to school whenever possible, both to increase physical activity and to decrease the congestion and resulting traffic safety and pollution issues around our schools.  While walking and biking are encouraged, parents are ultimately responsible for deciding how their children get to school. 

Children in Kindergarten through Grade 3 are unlikely to have the developmental and judgment skills for unsupervised bicycling.  Children in these grades should be accompanied by an adult when bicycling to or from school, and all riders must agree to follow the guidelines listed below.  Parents are strongly cautioned to supervise carefully if children of this age wish to bicycle to school. 

Children in Grades 4 and 5 may ride to school alone (with parental consent) after returning a signed Student Agreement and Parental Consent Form.

Parents must determine their own child’s readiness and the best route for their child to get to school.  Parents should ride the chosen route with their child prior to allowing them to ride alone, to be sure that their child follows all traffic laws, demonstrates safe behavior, and has sufficient bicycle handling skills to ride safely.

Burr School has developed the following guidelines to help make getting to school – whether by biking, walking, or driving – safer for everyone.  The privilege of riding a bicycle to school bears the responsibility of following these guidelines.  Riders who violate these guidelines may have their bike to school privileges revoked.  

(Please note – these guidelines also apply to scooters, skateboard, in-line skates, etc.)

Students and Parents Must Agree to These Guidelines Before Biking to School:   

• All riders MUST wear a helmet.  Massachusetts State Law (Section 11B1/2) requires any person 16 years of age or younger to wear an approved helmet secured by straps while riding on or operating a bicycle, in-line skates, a skate board, or a scooter.

• Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks and paths.  Riders must ride slowly and be prepared to stop quickly.

• Riders must follow the rules of the road including but not limited to: obeying all traffic lights and signals (including STOP signs), crossing only at marked crossings, and allowing only one rider per seat.

• Bicycles must be walked at all crosswalks and riders must obey directions given by crossing guards or other adults on duty.

• Bicycles may not be ridden on school sidewalks or anywhere on school grounds during arrival and dismissal.  Children arriving at the front of the school on Pine Street must get off their bikes once they reach the crosswalk, the Staff driveway, or the BCAP driveway and walk their bike to a rack.  Children arriving from Lexington Street must yield to pedestrians on the path across the field and should use the bike rack by the tennis courts.  At dismissal, students must walk their bikes off school grounds.

• Bicycles must be parked and locked in the racks provided.  Students must bring their own locks.

• Helmets should be labeled with the student’s name and stored in their backpack or attached to the bicycle.

• The school is not responsible for loss or damage to bicycles, helmets, or any other equipment.

The Student Agreement and Parental Consent form (click the file below to print) must be signed and returned to the office before biking to school.