Posted by where, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2010 at 9:33 am

Exactly where did this crash take place? Was the child hurt?

I do agree that the city needs a wider network of safe commute hour bike routes, especially in the neighborhoods away from the downtown area.

Posted by concerned parent, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Nov 8, 2010 at 9:38 am

There are already safe bike routes to schools but many kids don't follow them. They also don't obey the rules of the road and frequently ride several across blocking the traffic lanes. Parents are equally guilty of putting their kids at risk. They cross busy streets, ie, Stanford Ave. where there are no crosswalks putting both drivers and kids at risk.

Posted by BSR, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2010 at 9:53 am

"There are already safe bike routes to schools but many kids don't follow them. "

Well, that is the bike culture we have, and frankly you have to follow the crowd for safety.

The crossing guard near Jordan always instructs child bikers to head to school on the LEFT and shouts at them if they try to follow the rules of the road. The insane parent drivers of Jordan make it impossible to ride in the bike lane after school, forcing bikers onto the sidewalk.

I was glad I sent my child to PAs bike safety course, but he had to unlearn all the good lessons he learned so that he could get to school.

Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2010 at 4:17 pm

The child is fine, but he was not hit by a car, he hit a school bus. He was not wearing a helmet and went thru a stop sign.

Posted by Mom, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 10, 2010 at 5:42 pm

I wish the police would step up enforcement of the helmet laws for kids.

I see so many Jordan students bike by my house with their helmets dangling from their handlebars instead of on their heads!

Posted by Still need improvements, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Nov 11, 2010 at 3:36 pm

[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] This specific cross walk is very unsafe, light turns very fast to red and the person crossing needs to hurry up. As you cross the gate, there are only few steps and you are at traffic. If a child is riding there is not enough time to stop. It should be improve. Wider Sidewalk and a bar to help them slowdown, and another cross walk once they are behind Oregon Expressway. The roads are shared by everyone, old, young, able and disable and we have to make sure that the bike routs or walking routs are safe and have accessibility to ALL. I hope city takes a good look at it, so no other accident happens there.