Hundreds of Pacifica Students Expected to 'Walk or Roll' to School

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, hundreds of Pacifica School District students are invited to "walk or roll" to school for the 3rd annual International Bike/Walk to School Day.

The Pacifica School District is joining schools from around the world for this global event, which raises awareness of the needs to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasizes the importance of issues such as increasing the physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and concern for the environment. 

International Walk/Bike to School Day involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day, according to information on the organization's website. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration — with record breaking participation — each October. Today, thousands of schools across America — from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — participate every October.

The day in Pacifica is expected to build connections between families, schools and the broader community as students walk or roll to school with parents, teachers and community members, according to local organizer of the event Gwendolyn Holden.

The event is being organized by the Pacifica School District’s Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S). SR2S is a county funded grant that has the goal of making San Mateo County a healthier, safer, more sustainable community.

For additional local information contact gholden@pacificasd.org.