Students of all ages across North Texas are encouraged to participate in this year’s observance of Walk to School Day, scheduled for October 12. More than 120 events are planned throughout Texas, with over 50 campuses throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area participating.
The event brings together students, their parents, schools and public officials to celebrate walking, promote healthy behaviors and galvanize support for pedestrian safety improvements.
Walking and biking to school can include the following benefits:
- Encourage students to establish healthy habits
- Improve academic performance
- Reduce traffic congestion near schools
- Improve air quality
- Teach students about the importance of traffic safety
- Build stronger school-community relationships
As part of a NCTCOG promotion of Walk to School Day this year, 20 schools registered their event with NCTCOG and will receive free promotional materials. Each promotional kit includes a Walk to School Day banner and/or other safety and encouragement items for students. The schools will also be able to enter their students’ names into a raffle to win a new bicycle. NCTCOG anticipates offering free promotional events again for the 2023 Walk to School Day.
While walking to school is featured only one day a year, NCTCOG encourages students to continue opting for active ways to get to school after October 12. The right infrastructure will increase mobility for students across the region, regardless of where they live.
NCTCOG invests in Safe Routes to School projects such as improved sidewalks and crosswalks. In 2020, the Regional Transportation Council awarded nearly $7 million for six Safe Routes to School projects across North Texas through the 2020 Transportation Alternatives Call for Projects (TACFP). Later this year, the RTC will consider another series of funding requests as part of the 2022 TACFP.
