Springfield experiences rash of school bicycle/pedestrian injuries

In the past few weeks, Springfield has experienced a series of bicycle and pedestrian injuries, some serious and many involving children walking or bicycling to school.

Student struck on bike on way to school

Who is responsible for keeping kids safe on the way to school?

Two Rountree students struck by car while crossing street

Safety of intersection where two schoolchildren injured to be examined

Is it safe for kids to walk to school?

Further education might staunch flow of blood on our roads

Better driving key to reducing tragic crashes

City, schools need to ponder intersections

Highway worker killed on I-44

Pedestrian struck, killed by truck

Sept 12 crash involves pedestrian

Pedestrian struck near MSU campus; driver cites glare from sun (incidentally MoBikeFed had sent a press release with statistics showing how dangerous sun glare can be at this time of year, and tips for drivers for dealing with the problem, but no Springfield media outlet covered the issue as far as we know.)

Ozarks Greenways proposes using Safe Routes to Schools grant to help solve problem:

At a time when recent accidents involving students have parents calling for more bus service, the organization that creates greenway trails is preparing to offer a different way to school.

Ozark Greenways contends that using greenway trails could be an alternative for some students.

Part of a Safe Routes to Schools grant will be used to promote using trails passing near schools. The funds also will be used to promote walking and biking to school and other efforts to create routes using existing sidewalks.

More about Missouri's Safe Routes to School program and available grant funding is here.