More than thirty MPS schools have signed up to join thousands of schools across the nation to celebrate the joys and reap the benefits of walking and rolling to school. When more people walk and roll instead of driving, neighborhood streets become safer and more welcoming for everyone. The exercise we get from walking and rolling has benefits too—including improved focus, cognition, and mental health. Schools are celebrating on October 4 or on whatever day they chose.
You can see which MPS schools are participating on the national Walk & Roll to School Day website (scroll down for the list).
Editable MPS Flyer in ENGLISH | HMONG | SOMALI | SPANISH (see also sidebar for more phrases and translations)
Order MINNESOTA bike maps or bike guides for your event .
Walk to school events are a great way to begin or strengthen walk/bike-to-school efforts, conduct pedestrian education, and create enthusiasm for walking and biking to school and more. Walking or biking to school one time is so much more than zero. These events allow participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. The event also brings attention to the importance of creating safe routes to school. More than 60 percent of past Walk and Bike to School Day organizers said their events led to policy or environmental changes in their communities. Remember--events can be as simple as announcing "It's Bike and Walked to School Day" and giving "I Walked" and "I Biked" stickers to children when they arrive. Below is a guide for more complicated events.
Identify dates through the PTA/PTO or Site Council and secure principal’s support. Consider linking walk/bike to school event with other events.
Connect with school staff, students, parents, and volunteers to support the event. Possible ideas: music teacher helps find musicians/students to greet walkers, art teacher helps students create banners or visuals to promote or reflect on event, PE teacher promotes walking to school with PALA. Connect with bilingual and special education staff. Consider small incentives.
Promote event through website, newsletter and hall signs.
Invite special guest walkers.
Consider/plan for media coverage. Very local is a great place to start. Communicate with school administration.
Want even more fun? Consider creating routes to school where families can walk or bike together. You can also identify park and walk sites for families who usually drive children to school. Then designate starting point/time, create a map of the routes and distribute flyer. (See right sidebar for flyers for simple events.) Identify adult leaders for each route and supply with safety vests, stop paddles and Crossing Guard Guidelines.
Promote event through flyer. Add walk to school or bike to school safety tips to the back of flyer.
Send press release (if press coverage desired).
Promote event through school intercom, during lunch, at arrival and dismissal and other face-to-face contact.
Celebrate the arrival to school with cheers and music. You can also hand out I WALKED and I BIKED stickers, provide a banner for walkers and bikers to sign, and ask students to fill out tickets for prize drawings.
Provide coffee for parents to encourage them to linger, connect with each other, and perhaps consider establishing monthly, weekly or even daily walk and bike-to-school activities.
Reflect on event—and use reflections to address pedestrian safety concerns and improve the next walk to school event. Revise walk map as needed.
Translation of SRTS Walk, Bike, Roll Phrases
Plan an Event in 7 Days
Oct 4, 2023 resources - MN SRTS
Minnesota Safe Routes to School Resource Center
Mileage Clubs and Contest
Mindful Walking Lesson
K-5 Educators Guide (Alameda County SRTS)
Let's Roll MPS
Translations:
I WALKED LLEGUÉ CAMINANDO (Spanish) KUV TAUG KO TAW (Hmong) WAAN SOCDAY (Somali) INGII-PIMOSE (Ojibwe) Máni wahi. (Dakota & Lakota)
I BIKED LLEGUÉ EN BICI (Spanish) KUV CAIJ LAUV THIJ (Hmong) BAASKIIL BAAN FUULAY (Somali) INGII-TITIBIWEBISHKIGE (Ojibwe) Naic̣’ihmihma ohna wahi. (Dakota) Kahómni núƞpa ogná wahí. (Lakota)