Getting to School Safely
Making sure our kids get to & from school safely is one of our priorities. Read the established parking and traffic procedures below.
For the safety of our children, parking and traffic procedures were established in 2013 in conjunction with the Safe Routes to School plan for the following streets that neighbor our campus: White Oak Drive, Oak Avenue, Oakfield Lane, and Oak Knoll Lane.
We encourage all families to walk or bike to school. In 2015, the City of Menlo Park painted "sharrows" (shared lane bicycle markings) and installed additional traffic signage on Oak Avenue to increase traffic safety and awareness for bikers.
Please remember that these rules are in place for the safety of all families, including your own. The Menlo Park Police Department strictly enforces these rules.
🚗 Driving & Parking Rules
Obey All Traffic Laws
Whenever you drive near Oak Knoll School, please ensure our walkers and bikers feel safe:
- Don't Speed: Most streets in Menlo Park have a 25 mph speed limit. Please check your speedometer.
- Phones Away: Put away your electronic devices. Using a cell phone while driving is incredibly dangerous.
- Yield to Pedestrians: Be extra cautious at crosswalks and obey the crossing guards.
- Share the Road: Treat bicyclists like other drivers. Do not squeeze past a bicycle on a narrow roadway. Give children on bikes extra room, as they can be unpredictable.
- Keep Sidewalks Clear: Don't park on sidewalks. Leave at least 3 feet between your car and landscaping so students don't have to walk in the street.
Strict No Parking/Stopping Zones
There is a strict policy against parking and stopping in these areas on school days during both drop-off and pick-up:
- Oak Knoll Lane: Both sides between Oak Ave and White Oak Dr
- White Oak Drive: Both sides between Oak Knoll Ln and Oakfield Ln
- Oakfield Lane: Both sides
- Oak Avenue: Both sides between Lemon St and Sandhill Rd
Enforcement Times:
- 7:45 - 8:15 AM (Every school day)
- 2:30 - 3:15 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri)
- 1:00 - 1:45 PM (Thursdays only)
🚲 Bicycles, Skateboards & Scooters
Rider Guidelines & Expectations
Parents decide when to allow their children to bike to school independently; however, it's recommended that children wait until they are in 3rd grade. Children who violate the school rules for approaching and leaving the school grounds may have their bike privileges revoked. (These rules also apply to scooters and rollerblades).
- Always wear a helmet.
- Always give hand signals to make a turn.
- Always stop at stop signs.
- Always pass others on the LEFT.
- All bicycles must be licensed and locked while at school.
- Walk Your Bike: Students must walk bicycles/scooters with pedestrians from the corner of White Oak Dr & Oak Knoll Ln, in crosswalks, on sidewalks, and in school hallways.
Arriving to School
From Oakdell Ave or White Oak Dr:
- Ride on the right side of the road until reaching the corner of Oak Knoll Ln and White Oak Dr. Never ride across the school driveway during morning drop-off!
- At the corner, get off and walk across the crosswalks with pedestrians toward the school.
- Walk across Oak Knoll Ln with the crossing guards.
From Oak Avenue:
- Ride on the right side of the road up to the school crosswalk, being cautious of illegally stopped drivers, OR walk on the left sidewalk from the intersection to the bike racks.
- Cross ONLY at the crosswalk, not mid-block.
Departing from School
Toward White Oak Dr or Oakdell Ave:
- Walk your bike/scooter from the racks to the crosswalk; cross with guards.
- Walk to the corner of White Oak Ave and Oak Knoll Ln.
- Ride down the right side of the road, being cautious of car doors swinging open and cars pulling out.
Toward Oak Avenue:
- Walk your bike/scooter from the racks to the end of the raised concrete sidewalk on Oak Knoll.
- Ride on the right side of the road.
🚶 Walking & Transit
Walking Procedures
- Everyone must use the crosswalk in front of the school to cross Oak Knoll Lane.
- There is NO pedestrian access to the school through the parking lot.
- It is very unsafe to cross in front of the school driveway on foot during drop-off and pick-up times.
- Parents should thoroughly instruct their children which routes to follow, paying careful attention to crosswalk safety.
Transit & Routing Overview
For more comprehensive information on safe routes, carpooling, and groups for walking, please review our complete Transportation Overview.
Please note that unfortunately SamTrans has discontinued their route from Oak Knoll in the afternoons for the 2022-23 school year.