Put on your winter hats, scarves, mittens, and lace up those boots because Wednesday, February, 1st is the second annual Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Winter Walk to School Day!

All Massachusetts public elementary and middle schools are invited to register! This event is a great way to keep students motivated to continue walking (or biking) to school year-round.

Schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings throughout the state are organizing walking events that best suit the needs of their greater school community. It’s important to remember that there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate the event. While one school may organize a walking school bus, others may simply have students walk around an outdoor track. We hope you’ll join us. Please contact your Safe Routes to School Outreach Coordinator if you need help planning your own event.

During Winter Walk to School Day’s first year, 40 schools throughout the Commonwealth participated. With plenty of time to register, we have already surpassed that number this year. This is testament to schools and communities embracing the importance of active transportation and exercise for students.

There’s still time to register! If your school can’t hold an event on February 1^st, that’s okay. Your Outreach Coordinator can work with you to make sure your students can still participate in Winter Walk. If you have any questions about the event you can reach out to Keith.Doty@dot.state.ma.us for more information.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) works with students, parents, school staff, and local police departments across the Commonwealth to promote safe walking and bicycling through the five E’s: Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, and Evaluation.

Tags: pedestrian