Several schools to hold events on Wednesday, Oct. 12
Across the US, communities will celebrate Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
35 schools in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) will join in the fun by hosting Walk to School Day events at their schools this week. Students will be encouraged to walk or bike to school to build community, promote health, contribute to a cleaner planet, and champion safer routes to school.
Many BVSD children who ride the bus will also get to join in by participating in Ride & Strides, where buses drop students off a few blocks from school,
Festivities around the district will include children signing “I walked to school today” banners donated by DRCOG and being greeted by volunteers with stickers donated by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Made in Nature has generously donated packs of dried mango and the School Food Project has donated local apples, so students can enjoy a healthy snack as they arrive at school.
ItCouldBeMe.org is also returning as an event sponsor and is donating thousands of water bottles for participating students. Founded by avid cyclist, City of Boulder Transportation Advisory Board member, and BVSD parent, Triny Willerton, It Could Be Me is a non-profit dedicated to improving the relationship between motorists and all users of the road by creating an environment of mutual respect.
“We are so grateful at It Could Be Me for this opportunity to collaborate again with BVSD and be a part of this wonderful event that champions healthier lifestyles for our kids while promoting and demonstrating road safety.” Triny Willerton, Found It Could Be Me.
In keeping with the environmentally conscious aspect of Walk to School Day, Eco-Cycle will partner with BVSD again this year to collect used shoes at dozens of schools. The shoes collected will be sorted and sent to communities in need via Soles for Souls, providing a great opportunity for kids to help keep shoes they have outgrown, or no longer need, out of landfills.
“Eco-Cycle is proud to be a long-time partner in sustainability with Boulder Valley School District. While celebrating Walk and Roll to School Day, BVSD students and staff can reduce energy use and air pollution when they bike and walk to school. At the same time, they also have the opportunity to donate gently-used shoes at school donation boxes which reduces landfill waste and promotes reuse. Shoes continue their journey to Eco-Cycle, where staff sort the shoes and redistribute to others in need. The Walk and Roll to School Event and Shoe Drive is a great example of green partnership!” Kim Orr - Director, Eco-Cycle School Recycling and Environmental Education Program.
Walk to School Day also represents an opportunity to promote safety awareness and education. This year we will be highlighting a recently completed Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant project on Lehigh Street in South Boulder. This is a Safe Routes to School and Vision Zero project designed to make Lehigh Street a lower traffic-stress corridor to improve comfort and safety for students traveling to nearby Bear Creek and Mesa elementary schools. The project includes a paved multi-use path through Bear Creek Park leading to Bear Creek Elementary and new pedestrian crossings near Mesa Elementary along with buffered bike lanes on Lehigh Street. BVSD Superintendent Rob Anderson will be joined by Assistant Superintendent of Operations Rob Price and Director of Transportation Tony Skala at Bear Creek Park on Wednesday morning to greet students as they use the new infrastructure. Also in attendance will be City of Boulder staff and leaders including Transportation Advisory Board member Triny Willerton and City Council Member Matt Benjamin.
Boulder Valley School District strongly encourages students, their families, and staff to walk, bike, or take alternative transportation options to school not only because it is good for our physical and environmental health, but also helps to alleviate the traffic around our schools making arrival and dismissal at our buildings far safer for everyone involved.
Walking and biking to school get us moving and allows us some time outdoors to breathe fresh air and absorb some sunshine. It is an excellent way to connect to the environment and the community around us. Kids who use active transportation to school arrive happier, healthier and are more engaged and ready to learn when they arrive at school.
Media are invited to cover these special events at BVSD schools:
Wednesday, October 12th - Walk to School Day:
WHEN: Wednesday, October 12, various times in the morning before school.
WHAT: Several schools have special events planned for Walk to School Day
WHERE: Walk to School events will take place at the following schools:
Mesa Elementary: 8:20 a.m.-8:50 a.m.
1575 Lehigh St.
Boulder, CO 80303
Ride and Stride for bus riders from Bear Creek Park at 8:40 a.m. in celebration of the new infrastructure improvements on LeHigh as part of a Safe Routes to School Infrastructure grant
BVSD and City of Boulder leaders will be in attendance
Bear Creek Elementary: 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
2500 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
Celebration of the completion of the new walking path through Bear Creek Park
Neighborhood walking school buses
Creekside Elementary: 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
3740 Martin Drive
Boulder, DO 80305
Ride and Stride with buses at 34th and Martin
Neighborhood Bike Trains
Crest View Elementary: 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
1897 Sumac Drive
Boulder, CO 80304
Ride and Stride from 19th Street at the Boulder Meadows Community Center
Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies: 8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
3995 Aurora Avenue
Boulder, CO 80303
Music by Jeff Kagan
E-bike Demonstration
Manhattan Middle School: 9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
290 Manhattan Drive
Boulder, CO 80303
City of Boulder staff will be there talking to kids about their routes to school