Bike, Roll, and Walk to School
The event draws attention to the need for safer streets, and the impact walking and biking can have on developing a stronger sense of community.
by Elias Koza
GUEST WRITER
On May 8, 2024, Hugh Mercer Elementary School and James Monroe High School will participate in National Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day. This national event was started in 2009 in conjunction with The League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month.
The two schools in conjunction with the Fredericksburg Pathways Committee, HMES PTA, and Volunteers from the Rappahannock Rotary Club will encourage participants to pursue healthier habits, a cleaner environment, and draw attention to bike safety.
All participants will receive a bike light courtesy of FXBGO!, stickers designed by students at JMHS, and donuts.
James Monroe High School students will arrive at school by the individual’s preferred method of biking, walking, or rolling. They will meet at the front of the school to get their donuts and to take a photo at 7:20 A.M.
Hugh Mercer participants will have five meet-up locations throughout the city. Stop one is 1501 Washington Ave at 7:45 am, stop two is 1300 Augustine Ave at 7:45 am, stop three is Great Oaks Trail (Meet at the trailhead at Black Oak Ct) at 7:45 am, stop four is at the corner of Franklin Ave and Grove Ave at 8:00 am, and stop five is Normandy Ave and the bridge to the canal path at 7:45 am. Each meet up point will have parents and community members on hand to accompany the elementary students during the route.
Riders will arrive between 8:15 and 8:20 to receive their donuts and have their photo taken. All participants are encouraged to wear orange and yellow to show school pride and road safety.
By participating in this national event, the students hope to draw attention to the need for safer streets, reduced road congestion, a stronger sense of community, and improved accessibility for all community members.
Numerous studies note that communities that have higher rates of walking and rolling tend to have lower crash rates for all travel modes. This may be attributed to the fact that motorists drive more cautiously when they expect to encounter walkers and rollers.
A 2011 National Center for Safe Routes to School report states that “personal vehicles taking students to school accounted for 10 to 14 percent of all personal vehicle trips made during the morning peak commute times (based on National Household Travel Survey Data, 2009).”
By reducing the number of private vehicles going to school, morning traffic can be reduced around the school. Less traffic congestion also makes safer conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists, creating a positive cycle—as the community sees more people walking and rolling, more people feel comfortable walking and rolling.
All members of the community who are able and interested to join in biking, walking, or rolling to school on May 8th can register here.
Elias is a freshman at James Monroe High School.
This sounded like a really good idea except when I got to the part about donuts. Donuts were the go to treat in the office for years but today more people are concerned about the fat and sugar content and the effect on blood sugar that donuts have. With the obesity rate continuing to rise in this country and increasing concern about highly processed food, the organizers could have had apples, oranges, bananas, etc instead of donuts. Maybe next time?
Awesome job Eli!