TransForm Responds to Tragic Accident in Berkeley

The Need for Safer Routes to Schools is Urgent

TransForm and the entire Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Partnership (led by TransForm) mourn the tragic death of Zachary Cruz, a kindergarten student who was killed while walking with an after school program. This accident was only one of a number of recent pedestrian accidents involving Berkeley students and underscores the urgent need to create safer streets around schools. 

At the request of the principal, we taught pedestrian safety lessons to the kindergarten classes at LeConte Elementary, where Zachary was a student.  We also helped organize a meeting with the school community at Malcolm X Elementary School in response to a child who was struck and injured by a car on her way to school.

We are now working with the City of Berkeley to request funds to make much-needed pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements around four key schools.

TransForm believes children deserve safe access to school on foot and bicycle and that walking and bicycling to school can be an incredibly positive activity for kids and good for communities as a whole - if it is safe.

Learn more about the numerous education, engineering and encouragement activities that the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Partnership offers to ensure children have safe access to school.

Read the Oakland Tribune article about the recent events and what parents should be aware of.