Celebrate International Walk and Bike to School Month in October!

October 4th is this year’s International Walk and Bike to School Day! Communities are welcome to celebrate any day and/or multiple days throughout the month that work with your schedule and follow local public health guidance and social distancing recommendations.

Walk and bike to school events not only emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity and encouraging healthy lifestyles among children, but also address bicycle and pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and concern for preserving the environment. In addition, students who are physically active on the way to school arrive ready to learn and perform better in class. Walk and bike to school efforts also build connections between families, schools, and the community.

Go outside to get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful fall weather! Celebrate Walk and Bike to School Month by leaving the car at home and walking or bicycling with your children to school, to a park, or anywhere for some exercise!

Click here to see if your school is registered for Walk and Bike to School Month. If your school or community is not registered or involved in Walk and Bike to School events, please contact a Safe Routes to School Regional Coordinator in your area to find out how to get started! Information on how to plan walk and bike events is also available on our website.

Celebrating Walk and Bike to School Safely

October is Pedestrian Safety Month, the goal: to increase awareness around pedestrian safety and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians each and every time they are behind the wheel. When walking with children, practice traffic safety skills like walking on a sidewalk if one is available, stopping at intersections, looking left, right, front and behind, and listening for traffic.

During October’s National Pedestrian Safety Month, NHTSA highlights a different theme that States and other stakeholders can use to organize community-based projects, media events, and other activities to help create a transportation system for all people to easily and safely walk and roll.

Walk and Bike to School Resources

In addition to our NJ Safe Routes website, walkbiketoschool.org has a ton of great information to assist with planning Walk and Bike to School Day. Here are a few links to some of their great resources: