The Michigan Department of Transportation is marking Bike & Roll to School Day this Wednesday.
Michigan students will join children from around the globe to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day (BR2SD) on Wednesday, May 3. The event is being promoted by Safe Routes to School (SRTS) at Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF), a federally legislated program administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). SRTS programs are designed to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children and their families to walk, roll and bike to school.
“Bike & Roll to School Day is a great way for communities to come together and celebrate healthy ways to get around. The event presents an opportunity for local leaders and families to meet in real time and build a dialogue around walking and biking to school safely,” said SRTS Director Mary Moomaw. “We encourage participants to keep these conversations going beyond the day of the event and explore extensions with a Safe Routes to School initiative.”
As a component of SRTS programming, BR2SD emphasizes the importance of pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and is a way for families, schools, and the broader community to connect.
“We are always excited to work with the Michigan Fitness Foundation on Bike & Roll to School Day,” said Mike Kapp, Administrator, in the Office of Economic Development at MDOT. “Hosting a Bike & Roll to School Day event is a wonderful way to show students the benefits of walking, biking, and rolling to school, and often encourages a larger Safe Routes to School effort.”
Formerly called Bike to School Day, the name change acknowledges inclusion and equity by encouraging all students to safely walk, bike, or roll to school by being active through whatever means they choose.
The first event was held nationally in 2012 in conjunction with the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month. They modeled it after Walk & Roll to School Day, an international event that began in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America to bring attention and visibility for safe routes to school. In addition to the official event date, many communities choose to designate the entire month as an acknowledgement to active transportation.
BR2SD events can be as straightforward or as grand as schools want to plan — from simply inviting students to walk or roll to school, to hosting a bike parade, or organizing a bike train.
There is still time for schools to register for the event, and all registered schools receive planning assistance from MFF SRTS program staff. To register, visit saferoutesmichigan.org/bike-to-school-day/.
