Our Safe Routes to School staff is hard at work coordinating the annual International Walk & Roll to School Day event, which is on Wednesday, October 5th. Last year, over 60 Sonoma County schools participated, with over 10,000 students walking, bicycling, skateboarding, or scootering to school – not to mention thousands of additional parents, teachers, and school staff. The Safe Routes to School program provides participating schools with stickers, incentive prizes, posters, a guidebook, and technical support to put on a fabulous event.
This year, registered schools will be receiving “Walk and Roll Wednesdays” magnets to help promote the concept of utilizing active transportation at least one day a week year-round. Over 30 schools participating in our Safe Routes to School program already celebrate monthly walk and roll day events and/or contests and receive additional bike/pedestrian skill & safety education services, such as an annual 4th grade bicycle skill/safety PE class (i.e. “rodeo”). We’d love to see that concept – and corresponding funding – spread to even more schools! While we encourage families to walk or bicycle to school as often as they can, promoting one designated day of the week and celebrating monthly events provides opportunities for new families to give it a go, and continually raises awareness and excitement about the benefits of walking and bicycling to/from school.
If you would like to learn more about or get involved with our Safe Routes to School program, please contact Tina Panza, Education & Safe Routes to School Director. To find out if your child’s school is registered for the 2016 event, check in with your school office or contact Tina. To register for this year’s event, visit www.sonomasaferoutes.org (registration closes Friday 9/16).
International Walk and Roll to School Day 2016 and the County Safe Routes to School program is supported by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s One Bay Area Grant Program, Measure M, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program.