Safe Routes Philly (SRP) and Vision Zero joined students today to celebrate Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day. This national event encourages students to walk, bike, scooter, or skateboard to class. It promotes traffic safety, healthy habits, and awareness of safe routes to school.
More than 2,500 schools across 44 states and Washington, DC take part in this event each year. The Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) is proud to lead the effort in Philadelphia.
Today also marks the kick-off of Walktober 2026, a project of Safe Routes Philly. Walktober is a month-long walk and roll to school challenge. It lasts from October 7 until Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 18. During Walktober, Safe Routes Philly will support schools that have, or want, weekly biking and walking school buses.
Programs like Walktober help create safer, cleaner, and healthier communities. They give families more transportation choices. They also help students stay active and reduce traffic around schools.
Five schools participated in Philadelphia’s celebration:
- Edward Gideon School in Strawberry Mansion
- William S. Meredith School in Queen Village
- F. Amadee Bregy School in Girard Estates
- George W. Nebinger School in Bella Vista
- Bache-Martin School in Fairmount
City officials joined the Nebinger School’s walking group and bike bus. The day began at Weccacoe Playground. Students, caregivers, and school staff received a safety lesson from the Safe Routes Philly team. Everyone then enjoyed a 10-minute ride through the neighborhood to the school.
When they arrived, Principal Ayanna Townsend presented the 2026 Greg Wright Safe Routes Leadership Award. This year’s recipients are long-time parent volunteers, Jason Sandman and Silvia Licciulli. They have helped make Nebinger’s bike bus possible.
Research shows that programs like Walktober can increase walking and biking to school. When combined with traffic-calming measures like speed cushions, they do even more. Safe Routes education programs are even more effective at encouraging active transportation. Studies show that students who walk and bike to school get many benefits. They have better attendance, grades, and classroom behavior. These programs also help build stronger connections between schools and their neighborhoods.
Understanding traffic safety is the first step to getting more students walking and biking. Safe Routes Philly offers free pedestrian and bicycle safety lessons. They are available for schools across Philadelphia. Schools can request classroom presentations for second- and third-grade students. Sign up here.
Next month, Safe Routes Philly will celebrate Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day for the second year. This event honors Ruby Bridges, who helped end school segregation. She was the first Black student to attend a formerly all-white elementary school. Students across Philadelphia and the country will gather to walk to school.
Throughout Walktober and the school year, Safe Routes Philly asks drivers to watch for students as they walk, bike, and roll to school.
