International Bike and Walk to School day is Wednesday, October 7, 2009! This is a special day to promote safe walking and bicycling throughout the year. If you are interested in organizing such an event at a school of your choice, the Bike and Walk to School Month section of our website provides you the information and tools on how to have a successful event.
The “Frequently Asked Questions” section is especially helpful. This section has all the tools you need to put on the event: Flyers, Posters, School Newsletter and Loud Speaker Announcements, Bike Safety Handouts, Team Leader Invitation and Checklist and FUNdamental Activities to make the day exciting.
So far 70 Texas schools have signed on to the Safe Routes to School National Center website, which is a central resource for information.
If it is too late for you to make plans for October, keep in mind that the third Friday in May is Texas Bike and Walk to School Day. You can read up on what others have done and plan now for your event.
Bike and Walk to School resources:
BikeTexas
Safe Routes National Center for Safe Routes to School
International Walk to School USA
Texas Dept of Transportation
One school planning an event is Murchison Elementary in Pflugerville, TX. Their physical education teacher, Docia Craft, is also a BikeTexas SuperCyclist teacher. She is once again planning a big event for that day.
Docia says, “Prior to the day, teachers walk home through the neighborhood to designate the corners where the captains will wait on Walk to School Day. Parents are invited to the library to watch the morning announcements and participate in an “Apple Talk” with the principal. Texas Department of Transportation, Modern Woodmen, ARAMARK, BikeTexas, and local vendors provide safety related incentives to reinforce the messages included in the Walk to School campaign. School board members, the superintendent, principals, coaches, student leaders, band members, and others from the neighboring middle and high schools participate in our morning celebration of health, fitness, and connectedness.“
