Walk, Bike, and Roll to School

Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School is a national movement to make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school. We work with the Seattle Department of Transportation to improve safety around schools and to support students to walk and bike.
- *Spotlight* Bike to School Month is coming in May!
- Translation into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, and Amharic
- How many students are walking, biking, and rolling to school?
- Why walk, bike, and roll (i.e. wheelchair, scooter, skateboard, etc.)?
- Resources for students and families
- Resources to support more students at your school
*Spotlight* Bike to School Month is coming in May!
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 is Bike & Roll to School Day which is a great day to kick off Bike to School Month. Want to be involved but need support? Contact Sara Colling, your SPS Safe Routes to School Coordinator (skcolling@seattleschools.org or 206-532-4453).
Participate on your own!
- Cascade Bicycle Club has tracking calendars and Bike Bingo. Play to win prizes!
- See the resources below if you need a bike, helmet, or suggested route to ride on.
Participate with your school!
- Register your school for Bike and Roll to School Day on the National website.
- Get packages of free incentives to hand out to students who bike and walk (provided by the Seattle Department of Transportation). (Free reflectors, free bike lights, free stickers, and more!)
- Get flyer, calendar, and “letter to families” templates from Sara (skcolling@seattleschools.org)
- Submit your participated to Cascade Bicycle Club for a chance to win…
- The most biking minutes in the month of May
- Most participants on your school’s bike to school day
- Largest percentage of your school’s student population who participate on your school’s bike to school day
- Organize a bike bus or walk group to school (where there are leaders who create a route with stops along the way) – Sara can support you with routes and materials (skcolling@seattleschools.org).


Translation into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, and Amharic
How many students are walking, biking, and rolling to school?

About 1/3 of Seattle Public School students walk or bike to school most days! This data is based on two sources:
- The 2021 Healthy Youth Survey of Seattle Public School 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders with approximately 6,500 total responses
- A 2019 citywide survey as part of the Seattle Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Racial Equity Analysis mailed to all households in Seattle with school-age children. It was also available online in nine languages with 2,465 total respondents
Why walk, bike, and roll (i.e. wheelchair, scooter, skateboard, etc.)?

“In addition to the physical exercise and fresh air, walking to school helps kids develop independence and take responsibility for getting themselves to and from school on time.”— Laura Gamino, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Oklahoma City Metro
For our earth! Transportation is Seattle’s largest source of climate emissions. When we drive less, emissions go down in a big way.
For your health! Students who walk and bike get exercise built into their daily routine. Studies even show that students arrive at school more attentive and ready to learn (and happier too).
For your school! School pick-up and drop-off can be hectic with lots of idling cars in the same space. Walking, biking, and rolling reduces that congestion around schools and makes the air cleaner to breathe.
For fun! Walking, biking, and rolling on your own or with friends can connect neighbors to each other, and it’s just a fun way to be outside and part of the neighborhood.
Resources for students and families
- Find walking and biking maps specific to each school in Seattle.
- See a bike map of the whole city.
- Check out this Bike Guide to get started with biking in Seattle.
- Bike Works offers free bikes and helmets for people who don’t have a bike and live in Southeast Seattle and parts of South King County. Bike Works also has “Earn a bike” and bike repair classes.
- Public Health Seattle & King County compiled these resources for free and low-cost helmets.
- Use the City’s Find it, Fix it app or submit a service request to report broken glass on the sidewalk, downed signs, streetlights that are out, and other maintenance along your route.
- Email the City at walkandbike@seattle.gov with ideas that would improve your route.