Happy PAL-oween from your friendly neighborhood Arlington PAL (Predictable, Alert, Lawful) Ambassadors!

This Halloween, we’ve got some useful reminders for anyone out trick-or-treating or out on the streets:

Drive or Bike SLOWLY

Kids can be unpredictable humans, especially when they’re surrounded by the excitement of tricks and treats. There will be many more people of all ages walking around on Halloween than your typical weekday evening, so be sure to take extra care. Worst thing that can happen is that you’re delayed by an adorable parade of minions and goblins crossing the street. If you’re on your bike, make sure to let people walking and trick or treating know you’re around by calling your passes, ringing a bell or wishing them a Happy Halloween!

Lighten Up

While the onus is on drivers to take care around more vulnerable road users, like people walking, biking, and trick-or-treating, there are things you can do to improve your visibility at night. Reflective accents can be added to costumes to help you be seen. Carrying glow sticks or flashlights can be helpful as they not only help others see you, but help you see in the dark as well.

Arlington County requires that bicycles ridden at night have one white light at the front of their bike and a red reflector at the rear. A blinking red rear light and bonus reflective goodies, like vests or small stickers, can be even more helpful.

Be Lawful at Intersections—This Goes for Everyone!

If walkers wait for the crosswalk signal, bikers stop at the stop sign or light and drivers always yield to pedestrians, then we can all get to the most important part of the night: Getting home safely to devour all of the candy!

Throughout the fall and winter months (and sometimes on Halloween), WalkArlington and BikeArlington hold pop-up events to hand out reflective goodies and other treats. Sign up to volunteer with us and help everyone have fun and walk, bike, or drive safely.

This post was updated by Katy Lang in October 2019.