Mark your calendars for Bike to School Day 2018: May 9th!
Want to host Bike to School Day at your school? Use our checklist and get started!
What Is Bike to School Day?
It is a day across the nation when students, parents and faculty bike to school. The first National Bike to School Day took place in 2012, with nearly 1,000 local events in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This year, more than 2,600 schools will participate.
Why Is Bike to School Day Important?
Our ability to safely walk and bicycle is a vital part of what makes our community thrive. By creating opportunities for our young people to safely walk and bicycle, it will benefit community members of all ages, abilities and resources.
Many of our community streets aren’t safe for those outside of a car right now, in large part due to high traffic speeds and designs that prioritize driving over other modes of transportation. The Village and Town of Pittsford are working on the final draft of an Active Transportation Plan to help make our community streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Through Bike to School Day, we hope to encourage those who do have safe infrastructure to get to school by bike to bike to school more often. We hope to encourage those who do not to get involved to help improve the pedestrian and bike infrastructure in the village and surrounding areas.
There are many reasons to celebrate National Bike to School Day here in Rochester!
- to encourage healthy habits in our children
- reduce air pollution
- promote safer and more accessible streets throughout our community
- give children an opportunity to practice safe biking skills
Do Pittsford Schools Participate?
Yes! On May 10th, 2017 Jefferson Road Elementary School was the first school in Pittsford to participate in Bike to School Day! More than 120 students participated that beautiful, sunshiny morning. Students got to celebrate being healthy and active, practice safe riding, highlight the need for safe streets and have fun. Town Supervisor Bill Smith even joined us for the group ride.
[See more photos here.]
JRE students joined 6 other schools in the Rochester area and more than 2,700 schools across the country to promote health, community, and safety by biking to school. And they are doing it again this year on May 9th!
While Jefferson Road Elementary was the only school officially participating in Pittsford last year, other families and students from other schools rode that day, as well. There were also schools in Brighton and the City of Rochester participating, so car commuters across the region were reminded that they aren’t the only ones commuting on our roads.
Monroe County Schools participating last year:
- David B Crane Elementary School
- French Road Elementary School
- Genesee Community Charter School
- Indian Landing Elementary School
- Jefferson Road School
- School 19
- School 23