Pittsburgh kicks off ‘Walk and Roll to School’ program

PITTSBURGH — There’s a big push to make sure students are safe walking and biking to and from school in Pittsburgh.

It’s part of the city’s Safe Routes to School event for “Walk and Roll to School Day,” held every May and October.

The goal is to improve safety for kids around Pittsburgh schools and make drivers and the community more aware of the students’ routes, especially as more drivers are on the roads as things get back to normal as COVID restrictions are lifted.

“We really try to involve the community. We want them to watch out for our students,” said Colleen Berezo, principal of Pittsburgh Arlington.

JoAnna Taylor walks with her daughter every day. She walked alongside Mayor Ed Gainey Wednesday morning, showing him the challenges kids run into on their way to school.

Taylor said signs are important as are marked intersections and crosswalks.

She also said crossing guards are needed and the sidewalks are too narrow. She hopes the city helps create safer routes.

Gainey said city officials are working on a pilot program to fix some problems. He also told Channel 11 what he noticed on this morning’s walk.

“Some of these streets have been here since the 20s. How can we improve them a little bit, that’s a more difficult question we need to talk about,” said Gainey. “Just walking with the kids today, looking at some of the narrow streets, looking at some of the debris needing cut down, that was good for me to see it with my own eyes.”

Gets Real Show 10/11

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