Students and parents are encouraged to walk, ride their bike, or roll their way to local schools on this special day. Local participation in Dubuque is also being led by the Dubuque Safe Routes to Schools Partnership, the Dubuque Community School District, and Holy Family Schools.

Events like National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day are designed to encourage families to choose walking, biking, skating, or scootering to school, and have been hosted across the country since the late 1990s.

According to the National Household Travel Survey, only about 11% of students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade walked or biked to school in 2017. The Dubuque Safe Routes to School Partnership seeks to increase the number of students walking, biking, or rolling to school, as active transportation has been shown to produce several health benefits, including:

• Increased physical health and mental well-being
• Improved learning outcomes
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Increased community connections
• Improved air quality through lower vehicle emissions

National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day events also raise awareness of the need to create safer routes to schools, as well as emphasizing the importance of increasing physical activity among children. The events build connections between families, schools, and the broader community.

More information about National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day can be found at www.walkbiketoschool.org.

For additional information about the Dubuque Safe Routes to Schools Partnership, contact City of Dubuque Assistant Planner Jason Duba at 563.589.4223 or by email at [email protected].