North Texas schools are gearing up for Bike & Roll to School Day on May 8, with preparations in full swing to ensure a successful event. Organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, this annual celebration aims to promote safer active transportation options and provide traffic safety education to children.
Schools have until March 29 to register their events for a chance to win giveaways and new bikes, which will be raffled off to students to encourage safe bicycling to school. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is spearheading the initiative this year, offering various incentives to boost participation.
NCTCOG plans to hold raffles for safety-themed items for schools and bicycles for students, with entries accepted through a participation pledge on their website. Elementary and middle schools across the region will host events to raise awareness about active transportation and teach children about traffic safety.
Past participants have organized engaging activities like bicycle trains, bicycle bingos, and remote drop-offs for students living too far from school. These initiatives not only encourage active transportation but also foster community involvement and support for safer routes to school.
The benefits of adopting alternative transportation options extend beyond the event day, with long-term advantages including reduced air pollutants, less traffic congestion, safer streets, improved accessibility, and healthier students.
Bike & Roll to School Day is part of a series of events planned for May, designated as Bike Month nationwide. Alongside Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day, these events highlight biking as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. Last year, the region saw 35 Bike & Roll to School Day events.
To learn more about Bike & Roll to School Day events or to register your school, visit www.nctcog.org/walkbikeroll. And for schools unable to participate in May, there's another opportunity in October with Walk & Roll to School Day, where NCTCOG will partner with campuses across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
