Rolling Toward Safety: NCTCOG Launches Bike & Roll to School Day Promotion
3/7/2024
Bike & Roll to School Day is May 8, highlighting safe routes to school
PRESS RELEASE
Arlington, TEXAS -- North Texas schools will celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day on May 8, and preparations are underway to ensure this year is a success. Schools registering events by March 29 can enter to win giveaways and new bikes to raffle off to students to encourage them to safely bicycle to school.
National Bike & Roll to School Day is an event organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. This event aims to promote awareness and support for safer active transportation options for all, while providing traffic safety education to children. By participating in events that day, schools will join a growing movement in the region that is committed to fostering safe and active school routes, building strong communities and inspiring families to spend more time outdoors.
This year, the North Central Texas Council of Governments plans to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day with various giveaways to encourage participation among schools and students. NCTCOG will raffle off safety-themed items for schools and bicycles for students to encourage them to remain active. To enter NCTCOG’s raffles, school administration can visit www.nctcog.org/walkbikeroll and submit a participation pledge before March 29. Students will be eligible for the bike raffle through their school's participation.
Elementary and middle schools will host Bike & Roll to School Day events to promote awareness and support safer active transportation options, while also providing traffic safety education to children.
Past Bike & Roll to School participants hosted a variety of engaging events such as bicycle trains, bicycle bingos and remote drop-offs for students who live too far to participate safely. These initiatives not only promote active transportation but foster a sense of community involvement and support for safer routes to school.
Moreover, communities that permanently adopt alternative transportation options to school can see long-term benefits such as a reduction in air pollutants and traffic congestion, safer streets, improved accessibility and healthier students.
Bike & Roll to School Day is among several events planned for May, which is celebrated as Bike Month nationwide. Along with Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day, this month highlights the importance of biking as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. Last year saw 35 Bike & Roll to School Day events hosted throughout the region.
For more information on Bike & Roll to School Day events or to register your school for participation, visit www.nctcog.org/walkbikeroll.
May is not the only month schools in North Texas can celebrate active transportation. NCTCOG will partner with campuses across the Dallas-Fort Worth area in October in observance of Walk & Roll to School Day.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development.
NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered in the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 229 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 19 school districts and 27 special districts. For more information on the Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.