Getting to School

Safe Routes to School presentation 2022-2023

About half of JLS students bike to school and many walk! If you live too far away to walk or bike, consider walking part-way from a nearby neighborhood to avoid traffic congestion on East Meadow Drive.

Use the Safe Routes to School Walk and Roll map to select a good route and read the safety tips. You may download the map here and printed copies are available in the JLS office. Major student entry points for walking and biking include:

• Cowper Street
• Mayview Ave
• Waverley Bike Path
• Bike path at corner of Nelson and Charleston (connects with Magical Bridge playground)

JLS Campus Bicycling Rules

Bike riding on campus is restricted to the bike lanes that runs parallel to Waverley Drive and the playing fields. Bikes may not be ridden anywhere else on campus, including campus sidewalks, walkways, hallways, lawns, eating areas, or parking lots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. while school is in session.

Lock your bike in one of the three bike cages. We recommend that students use metal U-shaped locks for the best security. Cable locks are easy to cut and therefore are not deterrents to bike thieves. The cages are locked during school hours but remain unlocked after school and many students stay on campus for after-school activities.

The school is not responsible for the theft of bikes. Thefts should be reported to the Palo Alto Police Department, 329-2413. Having your bicycle registered will help track stolen/abandoned bikes back to you. You may bring your bike to any Palo Alto Fire Station from 4-5 pm any day of the week for registration.

Rollerblades, Skateboards & Scooters

Rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters are not to be ridden on campus at any time when the school is in use. Students on rollerblades are to remove them immediately upon arrival, store them in their lockers and not put them on again until ready to leave campus. Students on skateboards or scooters must pick them up and carry them as soon as they are on school property. The school is not responsible for the loss or theft of rollerblades, skateboards or scooters. Oversized skateboards and scooters can be stored in a locked bin outside the attendance office.

Wear a helmet when you ride a skateboard or scooter on public streets or sidewalks. It's the law.

Tips on proper helmet fit.

There are several convenient bus/shuttle options for students to get to JLS from many parts of the city.  

The City of Palo provides a free Shuttle across the city. The Crosstown shuttle provides service for getting to and from JLS.  More information is available from the City of Palo Alto and printed shuttle schedules are available in the JLS office.

The VTA 88L and 88M bus lines stop at East Meadow at Waverley St. For more route information, visit http://www.vta.org/routes/rt88.

The VTA 35 bus line makes stops along Middlefield Rd, just a short walk from JLS.  You can find additional route information at http://www.vta.org/routes/rt35.

JLS Critical School Commute Safety Alert: Campus construction began during the winter holiday 2023-24 and continues for the next two years. The JLS on-campus parking lot and adjacent loading zone is closed to drivers. The Waverley multi-use path will remain open to students and the public.

Driver drop-off/pickup access will be moved to two off-campus locations. Loading zone capacity will be severely reduced. Walking and biking should be the primary travel mode for students living a reasonable distance from JLS. A new, temporary crossing guard will be sited at the East Meadow/Cowper intersection, and supplementary bike/pedestrian safety assemblies will be conducted to support these changes. Please refer to the “Tips for Drivers” section below for more details about the new off-campus loading zones.

Practice makes perfect! If your student is new to walking/biking to school, please help them practice their route prior to the return to school. Rainy season foot/bike-powered commutes will be especially important in keeping traffic to a minimum during construction. Please check to ensure your student has properly functioning bike lights and adequate rain gear.

Driver Dropoff/Pickup Loading Zone Information: If you must drive to JLS, please determine which of the two off-campus loading zones to use, based on your driving route. 

The First Loading Zone: Located at the Mitchell Park Library, adjacent to the owl sculptures (shown below). Please only use Middlefield Road to access this entrance. Do not enter via the East Meadow driveway. To ensure a smooth flow of one-way  traffic when entering/exiting Middlefield Rd, please follow instructions and signage placed to support JLS drivers. Allow 10 minutes for your student to access the school from this location. The extra dose of physical activity will give them a boost of fresh air and support social/emotional health and academic success!

The Second Loading Zone: Stationed along the JLS school frontage on East Meadow Dr, this option is ONLY intended for drivers living west of Waverley Street. Please do not use this loading zone if you live east of Waverley Street. or north of Charleston Road, as the safety of the many student cyclists traveling along that route may be compromised if you approach this area from the east. Palo Alto law enforcement has committed to maintaining an ongoing presence on East Meadow Drive to deter drivers from making illegal U-turns, passing other drivers via the bike lane, or unsafely dropping students off mid-block.

Thank you for helping ALL students get to school safely! If you have questions pertaining to route safety during the upcoming construction period, please contact JLS Measure Z Project Facilities Manager.