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Walk to School Day Ideas
(download
this info as a PDF)
If you think your school can’t
possibly host a Walk to School Day
event, think again! The ideas listed
below can help make it work.
WALKING SCHOOL BUS
The walking school bus addresses the
needs of students and the concerns
of parents. One or more adults
accompany a small group of students
who pick up other students along a
planned route, similar to the
traditional school bus. They walk as
a group on their commute to and from
school.
Adults can take turns walking with
the students by having assigned days
of duty. Children can be picked up
at their homes or at “staging areas”
where they “catch the bus.” The
staging areas should also have adult
supervision. Students can wear a
specific color (yellow for
visibility and to symbolize the bus,
for example), use a wagon for their
backpacks, or hold a rope linking
them all together. Adults can
utilize the opportunity to teach
pedestrian safety skills to students
while walking to school as well.
BIKE TRAINS
Bike trains are similar to the
walking school bus except that
students ride their bikes to school
in groups. These are usually
utilized when older students are
involved.
A bike safety workshop (sometimes
called a bike rodeo) should be
offered to teach students important
safety habits, including the
importance of wearing a bike helmet.
Bike racks should also be available
to students to secure their bikes
while at school. Bike trains need
more adults to supervise bicyclists
and adults should be good role
models (i.e., know and obey bicycle
safety rules).
WALKING WEDNESDAYS
Another way to promote walking to
school is to begin a “Walking
Wednesdays” program. Designate
Wednesday as “Walking Wednesday”.
Encourage students to walk to school
with their friends, family,
caregivers, or as part of a walking
school bus. Keep track of the number
of students walking and reward the
class that has the greatest
percentage of students
participating. This program can be
held on any day of the week; if
Wednesdays do not work for your
school, choose whichever day works
best.
ALTERNATIVE DROP-OFF
In situations where a majority of
students are bused or are driven
because they live far away, finding
an alternative drop-off location for
Walk to School Day is a great idea.
Buses and private vehicles can stop
a few blocks away from the school in
a parking lot that has safe
sidewalks connecting to the school.
Students are greeted by adult
volunteers who walk with the
children the remaining way to
school.
Walking buddies include police
officers, grandparents, high school
athletes and band members, parents,
and community leaders. Recruit
volunteers before Walk to School Day
and provide them with directions to
the alternative drop-off.
Look for an alternative drop-off lot
that has enough space for buses and
other vehicles to stop, safely
drop-off students and park so
parents and community members can
leave their vehicles and walk with
students. Examples of alternative
drop-off locations are: shopping
centers, community centers, parks,
and places of worship.
Be sure to invite your school
district transportation director and
bus drivers to walk with students!
When Routes Aren’t Safe or IF
Walking IS Not Possible...
Walk to School Day builds public
support for having safe walking
routes to school. The Safe Routes to
School program is a great follow-up
to Walk to School Day. While Walk to
School Day is a one-time event, Safe
Routes to School is an ongoing
initiative to identify safety
hazards to walking and bicycling to
school and to develop an improvement
plan that targets making specific
changes.
However, even before route
safety is improved, your school CAN
hold Walk to School Day! Ways that
schools have improvised Walk to
School Day when walking routes
aren’t yet safe include “Walk to
School Day—at School.” Students
arrive by usual transportation mode,
are greeted by walking buddies
(see above for examples of walking
buddies) and walk the perimeter of
the school property several times.
Parents and other community members
are given directions on where to
park and when students will arrive
at school so they can walk with
students on school property.
“Walk to School Day—at School” is an
effective way to bring community
attention to the lack of safe routes
for walking and bicycling to school.
It is also a great way to involve
students who must be bused or driven
to school on Walk to School Day. For
a variety of reasons it may not be
possible for all students to walk to
school; however, all students should
be able to join the celebration.
CELEBRATIONS
Schools sometimes hold an assembly
after students, parents and
community members arrive at school.
It is a good opportunity to
emphasize healthy, safe lifestyle
choices.
Guest speakers might include police
officers who teach pedestrian skills
and high school students who model
positive attitudes toward physical
activity, such as members of the
cheerleading squad or sports teams.
Another way to celebrate Walk to
School Day is to hold a meeting to
talk about the interest in starting
a Safe Routes to School initiative.
DON'T FORGET
• Promote your event to the news
media.
• Count student, parent and
community participants this year and
use these figures to increase
participation next year!
• Invite your school district
transportation director and bus
drivers to participate in Walk to
School Day.
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