Texas Bike & Walk to School Day Is Thursday, April 27!

Help Texas Bicycle Coalition spread the word to schools in your community! Texas Governor Rick Perry has officially proclaimed Thursday, April 27, 2006 as Texas Bike & Walk to School Day. The Coalition has created and published resources on the BikeTexas website to help schools and volunteers coordinate and participate locally in Texas Bike & Walk to School Day. Information and materials are now available on the Texas Bike & Walk to School Day web pages.

Texas Bike & Walk to School Day is an event that encourages students and parents to bike and walk to school. This is the primary event that instills the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program as part of the culture of the schools in your community. On Texas Bike & Walk to School Day, volunteers can host a greeting table with food and/or rewards for students who bike and walk to school. Special neighborhood bike trains and walking school buses can also be organized as a way to encourage groups of students and parents to travel together.

Texas Bike & Walk to School Day seeks to:

• share the importance and fun of physical activity
• teach children safe walking and bicycling behavior
• help students arrive more alert and ready to learn
• reduce traffic congestion and speed near schools
• instill responsibility and self-confidence in children
• reclaim neighborhood streets

Texas Bike & Walk to School Day is sponsored by the Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Fund and is a key component of the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program unites communities toward a common goal of creating and maintaining safe, active, healthy lifestyles for children and safer, healthier communities for everyone.