Tips for deciding whether a child is ready to get to and from school without adult supervision – and how to make the route safer.

¢ Know your child. Some 10-year-olds are mature enough to handle them responsibility that goes with independence. Others are not.

¢ Consider the route. Are there major streets to cross? Will the child be walking or biking alone or with schoolmates?

¢ Set clear rules, such as whether your child must come straight home from school.

¢ Talk with other parents in your neighborhood about having kids walk or bike to school together. There is safety in numbers.

¢ If public transportation is unavailable, unreliable or unsafe, consider lobbying public officials for better transit options.