Oct. 5 is International Bike and Walk to School Day

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 is International Walk and Bike to School Day.  This is a special day to join schools around the globe in promoting safe walking and bicycling.  The event could start a trend that can continue throughout the year.

If you are interested in organizing such an event at a school in your community, BikeTexas offers a “world” of information on our website. Click here to order or download the new Safe Routes to School Event Handbook from BikeTexas with all the information and tools to enable you to conduct a successful event. The handbook contains: Team Leader Checklist, Sample Newsletter and Loudspeaker Announcements and FUNdamental Activities for Kids.

Other Event choices in the manual are a Bike/Walk Rodeo, Kids Fun Race and a Bike/Walk –A-Thon Fundraiser. Each has step-by-step instructions to help you plan a successful bike/walk safety event for your school and community. The handbook also discusses how to: involve partners, promote your event, follow up and tips for keeping everyone happy, safe and on task during the big event.

But wait! There’s more! Look at the other BikeTexas educational materials available to enhance any healthy event you might have. From A-Z by Bike is a colorful and interesting comprehensive guide to safe bicycling for kids and adults.  You can also order Share the Road Bookmarks. In addition, there are safety handouts available in English and Spanish for helmet fitting, checking a bicycle for safety, walk safe rules, Texas bike laws and more.

Funded by a Safe Routes to School Texas Department of Transportation grant, these materials are provided to Texas schools and communities at no charge.

Go to the International Walk to School site at www.walktoschool.org to register your 2011 event.  Currently there are 69 USA schools signed up.

If it is too late for you to make plans for October, keep in mind that May is Bike and Walk to School Month.  You can read up on what others have done and plan now for your event.

Resources:
BikeTexas
Safe Routes National Center for Safe Routes to School
International Walk to School USA
Texas Department of Transportation