May 8 is National Bike and Walk to School Day! But you don’t have to follow the crowd: any day that is convenient for your school will be beneficial. Start planning now to have a Bike and Walk to School Day before the end of the school year!
Not sure where to start? We have you covered! Download the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School Event Manual, which gives parents, teachers, and youth community workers the tools and resources to organize several types of bike and walking events for their school, neighborhood or community.
The handbook provides step by step instructions to guide you in planning a successful day! In addition to Bike and Walk to School Day, there are how-tos for other bike and walk events: Bike/Walk Rodeo, Kids Fun Race, Neighborhood Walk and Roll, and making a Bike/Walk event into a fund raiser.
Walking or riding to school can help children reach the recommended level of sixty minutes of physical activity per day. Research also shows that physical activity contributes to a child’s academic achievement and mental health (picture at right is from this research article).
A school’s first Bike and Walk to School Day could be the jump start that students and their parents need when they realize that walking or biking is a great way to start the day. If more students walk or bike, there can also be a reduction in traffic congestion at the school, resulting in calmer drop-off and pickup times and increased safety for all students, teachers, and parents who travel to and from school.
Mapping out routes for the day can be beneficial for all students for Bike and Walk day and for the days after the event. City planning officials can identify locations that need some attention with crossing guards, marking crosswalks, sidewalk improvements, or crossing lights.
The Event Handbook was designed to share with your PTA leaders so they can assist a school in putting on fun and active events. The section on how to have events be a way to raise funds will be helpful in many ways. Download your Event Handbook today and have a GREAT Bike and Walk to School Day!
