By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The streets of many Kansas communities will once again be buzzing this week with buses and kids on their way to back to school — and the Hays Police Department is reminding people to slow down, have patience and be on the lookout in school zones.

School Resource Officer Tim Dreiling with the Hays Police Department said during traffic times before and after school, police are encouraging motorists to pay extra attention for children getting on and off the bus and riding or walking to school.

“We have a lot of traffic that wasn’t on the road all summer,” Dreiling said “Now between 7:30 in the morning and 9, they’re delivering kids to school. Afternoon hours, it gets busy after 2:30 p.m.”

Dreiling added there will be many kids walking and biking to school early in the school year. And with the newly painted bike lanes, he anticpates more bicycle traffic on the roadways.

The bike path between 24th and 27th on Fort Street is one to pay particular attention to, according to Dreiling. The path is marked to allow bike traffic to travel in both directions.

“Be aware there could be a bicycle along that east curb coming in the other direction,” Dreiling said.

It is also illegal to pass a school bus that has the stop sign extended and its lights flashing.

Dreiling said school bus drivers will report motorists who break the law to the police.

For people dropping off their children at school, Dreiling said it’s important to drop them off at the curb so they do not have to walk across traffic.