Walk and/or bike to school days are part of a national initiative that encourages students to walk, bike, or roll to school, promoting physical activity, safety, and community engagement. These events can create opportunities for youth to interact and socialize with their peers, learn pedestrian and bicycle safety skills, increase their feelings of connection to their school and community, and create a positive experiences to encourage independent travel later in life.

Plan an Event
Getting a Walk/Bike to School Day going can be easy. The goal is to encourage students to walk and have fun. If this is the first event, don’t get buried in details or the pressure of a huge event. It could be as easy as a few fliers, posters or banners and a welcome table in front of school to celebrate kids’ efforts.

Our team put together a planning guide to assist anyone stepping up to organize an event. Make sure to get the school principal’s permission before planning.

• Pick A Coordinator– Anyone can be a champion. Think PTA, school staff, parents, or student groups (e.g. student council, health class, etc.)
• Pick A Date– Walk to School Day happens in October. Bike to School day takes place in May. Check walkbiketoschool.org to find the national dates.
• Pick A Method– What fits your schools needs? If distance is an issue, suggest a meet up at a location 0.5-1 miles away from the school. Check out our “When Walking to School is Not an Option” section of our planning guide to learn about common barriers and ways to still participate.
• Pick A Theme– Themes can help make the event more exciting and give ideas for activities to incorporate in class throughout the day or week. Find theme suggestions in our planning guide.
• Register Your Event– While not required, registering your event helps track participation nationally and locally. Let us know you are participating to get assistance in identifying volunteers or solutions to issues that arise. If supplies are available, promotional materials and incentives may be supplied to your school.
• Promote Your Event– Start with inviting students and parents to participate. Fliers, posters, banners, school newsletters, and intercom announcements are all good places to begin. Remember to take advantage of social media too. Encourage the students to create banners, fliers and signs to place around school or carry with them. Downloadable materials and sample emails, announcements, and press release can be found in the planning guide.

Resources
Walk to School Day Planning Guide
Why Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Talking Points
Walking Audit Tool
Walk to School Day Sample Social Media Messages
Template Walk to School Day Flyer