Sunrise McMillan Elementary School in Fort Worth, JPS Health Network, Texas Bicycle Coalition, Texas Medical Association and Texas Academy of Family Physicians partnered toward education and celebration for Texas Bike & Walk to School Day. A team of 20 volunteers including the local CBS station greeted the students as they arrived to school that morning.

More than 100 students participated, and approximately 30 children rode their bikes to school for the very first time. The event also featured two major accomplishments. Prior to a helmet fitting day none of the children had helmets. So, JPS Health Network and Hard Hats for Little Heads partnered to give 150 helmets to fourth and fifth graders. In addition, the school district installed a bike rack just in time for Texas Bike & Walk to School Day after requests to the school district by JPS and Coalition staff members.

The morning of Texas Bike & Walk to School Day, volunteers gave students at Sunrise McMillan Elementary bags of information including the Coalition’s A-Z bike workbook, bike reflectors and TxDOT bike safety bookmarks. Then, a short parade around the school near the new bike rack gave students a thrilling active break from the morning announcements.

Texas Bike & Walk to School Day was also a great success at West Handley Elementary School in Fort Worth. Right from the beginning the school principal was excited about the opportunity to offer her students a fun activity to promote health and exercise. Denise Baugher, West Handley’s PE teacher, took the reigns as team leader and enlisted the help of her fellow teachers. Together, they recruited parents to participate the day of the event by biking and walking with the students.