Every October, schools and municipalities across New Jersey join together to celebrate Walk and Bike to School Month, a statewide effort that encourages students and families to choose active transportation. The month-long celebration is coordinated by TMAs through the Safe Routes to School program—a nationwide initiative supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation that promotes safe walking, biking, and rolling to school

These events highlight the many benefits of Safe Routes to School including:

  • Creating safer streets by drawing attention to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists,
  • Promoting healthy, active lifestyles for students and their families,
  • Protecting the environment by reducing car trips and lowering carbon emissions, and
  • Strengthening community connections by bringing families, neighbors, and schools together.

New Jersey’s 8 Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) played a key role in supporting this year’s celebrations. Each TMA partnered with schools and local governments in its region to host creative, community-driven activities that promoted safe walking and biking to school. Explore the examples below to see how each TMA contributed to making this October a meaningful and engaging month for students and families.

Avenues in motion

Avenues in Motion had a busy and fulfilling October month filled with Traffic Safety Town sessions, Walk and Roll classes, and Walk to School Days where students learned all about getting around town safely and securely. Over 25 schools participated in Walk to School Days. Avenues in Motion was present at some of the schools to allow the children to engage in air quality monitoring and students were very eager to participate. Central Ave. School in Madison had its first bike bus in the Fall season.

Cross County Connections

Cross County Connection celebrated with three schools: Mansion Avenue Elementary and Haviland Avenue Elementary in Audubon, and Mark Newbie Elementary in Collingswood. The students were troopers, braving the downpour to walk to school and show their commitment to safe, active transportation. CCCTMA loved sharing reflective zipper pulls, mood pencils, and Walk to School Day activity books with all the participants.

EZ Ride

5,692 students participated in 47 Walk, Bike, and Roll to School events in EZ Ride’s service area. Of those 47 events, EZ Ride’s Bike & Pedestrian team attended 13 events (28 percent) in person with 1,225 students. There were also 71 walk/bike bus events with 1,429 students in EZ Ride’s service area.

EZ Ride conducted the following activities in October with (#participants).

  • 18 Pedestrian & Bike Safety Presentations (2,433)
  • Four Pedestrian Safety Presentations (752)
  •  Two Bike & E-Scooter Safety Presentations (230)
  • One Bike Safe Skills class (5)
  • One Pedestrian & E-Scooter Safety Presentation (65)
  • One E-Scooter Safety Presentation (120)
  •  One High School Pedestrian & Driver Safety (30)

A total of 3,635 students were involved. They also provided 643 Walk & Roll stickers and200 bookmarks to participants.

goHunterdon

In Hunterdon County over 800 students across 14 local elementary and middle schools are stepped up to participate in Walk and Roll to School Month.

Throughout October, these schools are hosting a variety of engaging activities to encourage active transportation and teach students how to travel safely, including:

  • Designated Walk to School Days & Walking School Buses: Schools have scheduled special “Walk to School” days, with some organizing Walking School Buses, chaperoned group walks along set routes.
  • The Golden Sneaker Competition: Participating schools are vying for the coveted “Golden Sneaker Trophy”, awarded to the school with the highest percentage of students who walk or roll to school on their designated day. The trophy will be proudly displayed at the winning school for the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year.
  • Safety Presentations: Ahead of each school’s walk/roll day, goHunterdon staff are delivering interactive safety presentations. Students learn essential pedestrian and biking skills like crossing the street safely, using crosswalks, and being alert to their surroundings—all in a fun, hands-on format.
  • “The Smasher” Helmet Safety Demo: One of the most popular demonstrations is The Smasher”, which highlights the importance of wearing a helmet when biking, scootering, or skateboarding. Students witness a dramatic demonstration using a pumpkin—let’s just say the pumpkin doesn’t fare well without its helmet on securely!

Greater Mercer TMA

During October’s Walk & Roll to School Month, Safe Routes to School programming reached 1,272 students across multiple communities in Ocean and Mercer counties. Activities began with a bike and pedestrian safety class for Boy Scout Troop 6 in Point Pleasant, followed by bike rodeos for third graders at Nellie Bennett and Ocean Road Elementary Schools. GMTMA partnered with the Point Pleasant Borough Police, and the rodeos included bike skills courses, helmet fittings, safety reviews, and basic bike adjustments to help young riders gain confidence and safe-riding habits.

Princeton and Lawrenceville schools participated extensively through Walk & Roll to School Day events at Riverside, Community Park, Littlebrook, Slackwood, and Ben Franklin Elementary Schools. Students engaged with GMTMA’s spinning quiz wheel featuring bike and pedestrian safety questions and earned prizes while learning essential traffic rules. Additional outreach included tabling for Princeton’s Street-Smart safety campaign to promote safer streets and community awareness.

Further safety education took place at Darlene McKnight Elementary in Trenton, with multiple third-grade classes covering gear checks, rules of the road, and safety laws through presentations and hands-on discussion. GMTMA also partnered with Princeton Police to conduct a bike rodeo at Littlebrook Elementary School for its third-grade classes. Community Park Elementary welcomed GMTMA to present at a “Girls in Gear” after-school program focused on safe cycling and confidence-building. Together, these activities strengthened students’ understanding of safe walking and biking practices throughout the region.

Hudson TMA

Between September and November, the Hudson TMA led its annual Walk to School initiative across 14 schools in Hudson County — engaging more than 1,000 students (including special-needs classes) in a structured morning walk followed by a safety assembly. The assembly emphasized pedestrian, bicycle, and environmental safety, reinforcing healthy and sustainable travel habits and reducing congestion around schools. By integrating inclusive routes, staff/volunteer support, and interactive educational elements, the program advances school-community collaboration and supports broader Safe Routes to School goals.

Keep Middlesex Moving

Keep Middlesex Moving (KMM) continued its commitment to promoting safe, active transportation by engaging schools and communities across Middlesex County for National Walk and Roll to School Day 2025. With the support of KMM through educational materials such as bookmarks, pedometers, and pencils, 43 schools participated in Walk and Roll to School events. 12,000 students walked or rolled to school throughout the month of October.

On October 16, KMM’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator partnered with Greater Brunswick Charter School to deliver on-foot walking safety lessons to over 200 students. The following day, Cranbury school crossing guards joined KMM staff to provide bike and walk safety education to more than 100 students, including an indoor walking safety session led by the guards themselves. Through these efforts, KMM continues to strengthen its partnerships with schools, local law enforcement, and community members to create safer, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods for Middlesex County children and families.

RideWise

Schools in Manville and North Plainfield came together to celebrate Walk and Bike to School Month in Somerset County. The month kicked off on October 3rd with the Roosevelt Walking School Bus, led by Principal Alicia Rissmiller. This kickoff of Roosevelt’s monthly Walking School Bus saw 52 students, along with teachers, parents, and RideWise team members, participate in a fun and healthy walk to school on a bright and sunny Friday.

On October 7th, the focus shifted to pedestrian safety at East End Elementary School in North Plainfield, where 380 students from grades K-4 learned important pedestrian safety tips. This was followed by a similar event at Stony Brook Elementary in North Plainfield on October 10th, engaging 267 students from grades K-4 in interactive pedestrian safety activities.

The month concluded with a Health and Safety Night at Roosevelt Elementary School in Manville on October 16th. This event was very popular with 69 parents and their children stopping by the information table and 20 students participating in the bicycle rodeo conducted by RideWise team members.

Altogether, four events took place during Bike and Walk to School Month, educating 788 students and promoting physical activity and safety.