Pledge to walk or roll in October

Published on October 02, 2024

This year, International Walk to School Day is celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The City of Menlo Park encourages you to join the fun by walking or rolling with your friends, family, and neighbors to school! Walk to School Day is an international celebration that promotes walking and biking to school to recognize the importance of safe and active transportation.

International Walk to School Day is a worldwide event connecting more than 40 countries under the mission of promoting walking and rolling to school! The celebration launched in 1997 and grows in popularity every year.

In October, challenge yourself by picking a day of the week (or more!) to walk or roll to school. This new habit will benefit your family’s health, safety and the environment near your school. The Safe Routes to School program created a pledge card template you can use at your school to encourage families to use an alternative transportation mode to the family vehicle more often.

Here are other ideas to walk or roll more in your daily life:

Park and walk: Too far to walk? Park and walk to school! Find a street close to your school and walk with your students. In addition to enjoying a short walk and fresh air, this will help reduce car traffic near the school and improve students’ safety.

Join a walking school bus or bike bus: you may join a group of neighbors who walk or bike to school together. Walking and biking in a group is more fun and safer.

Promote road safety near your school. You can find here printable signs and banners to install on your lawn.

Take the pledge: challenge yourself and commit to walking or biking more often. It can be once a month or a few times a week. Choose your own adventure! Email saferoutestoschool@menlopark.gov to receive the pledge cards.

Integrate games in your walk: a scavenger hunt, a song, theme days will change you routine and make your daily walk engaging. Check out this Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt card and more printables here.

If you are planning an event at your school, don’t forget to register your school for this nationwide celebration!

More resources and safety tips

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month. See the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website for resources and data on walking safety.