A Walk & Roll to School Day is a special event that encourages students and their parents to try walking, bicycling, or other non-motorized ways to get to school. There are two annual events that are celebrated internationally:

• International Walk to School Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in October.

• Bike to School Day is the first Wednesday in May, and celebrations can last all month long as part of Bike Month.

Related Encouragement Events

The frequency of these events depends on the level of support and participation from students, parents, schools, and local officials. Try out these great ideas:

• Winter Walk to School Day, Earth Day, or Step Into Spring celebrate active modes during the winter when schools may be involved with fewer Safe Routes to School activities.

•  Weekly events such as Walking/Wheeling Wednesdays or Walk & Roll Fridays can build momentum for walking and biking to school.

• A Walking School Bus/Bike Train can be organized to alleviate parents’ fears about traffic and personal safety.  Check out these tips for including students who live too far to walk.

• “No Cars on Campus Day” where the empty parking lot can be used for other activities, such as a bike rodeo.

• Provide monthly walk & roll messaging to encourage participation

Available Resources:

• Walk & Roll to School Day Toolkit from Alameda County Safe Routes to School has setup instructions, stickers to print, mode charts, tally sheets, and more

• Walk & Roll to School Days Guidebook from Marin County Safe Routes to School and the Transportation Authority of Marin includes instructions and templates for an e-blast, posters, and a school newsletter announcement

• Walk & Roll to School Day Guidebook from Sonoma County Safe Routes to School includes suggestions for promoting the event

• California Walk, Bike, Roll Posters from The California Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center are available in a variety of languages