Seattle Public Schools

Transportation

Walk, Bike, and Roll

Safe Routes to School

Graphic of kid on a bike

Safe Routes to School is a national movement to make it easier and safer for students to walk, bike, and roll to school. We work with the Seattle Department of Transportation to improve safety around schools and to support students to walk, bike, and roll.

Become an SPS Crossing Guard today!

We’re hiring caring and safety minded individuals to safely cross students to and from school at various locations across the city.

SPS Transportation Jobs

2024 October Walk Month and 11/14 Ruby Bridges Day Recap

This year, 13 Seattle Schools participated in Walk to School Day in October. Three schools celebrated Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 14th. Thanks for showing up to walk with your school community! Check out event highlights in the photos below. Want to highlight your event? Share photos with brnelson1@xlqx.net to be featured on this page.

October Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Month

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day 11/14


Why Walk, Bike, and Roll (wheelchair, scooter, skate, etc.)?

Cartoon graphic of bikers and walkers arriving outside of school. A crossing guard helps students cross the street safely, speed humps help slow traffic, and a traffic garden in the background shows students practicing safety skills on the blacktop.

Transportation is Seattle’s largest source of climate emissions. When we drive less, emissions go down in a big way.

School pick-up and drop-off can be hectic with lots of idling cars in the same space. Walking, biking, and rolling reduces that congestion around schools and makes the air cleaner to breathe.

“In addition to the physical exercise and fresh air, walking to school helps kids develop independence and take responsibility for getting themselves to and from school on time.”

Learn more about the benefits and recommendations for when kids can walk to school alone.

Walking, biking, and rolling on your own or with friends can connect neighbors to each other, and it’s just a fun way to be outside and part of the neighborhood.

Don’t take it from us – hear why students, caregivers, and staff at Bailey Gatzert walk to school together.

How many students are walking, biking, and rolling to school?

28% of Seattle Public School students walk or bike to school most days!

Sign reads "How did you get to school today" and student signatures fill bubbles for their mode of transportation.

Resources and Support

Contact the SPS Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator, Brooke Nelson brnelson1@xlqx.net, for support with your programs, events, and routes.

student biking on a school street closed to vehicle traffic with closure sign in foreground.

Getting the Word Out to Your School

You know your school community best! But here are ideas to spread the word about your walking or biking activity.

Flyer template for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
  • School leadership could put info in the school newsletter. They can also send text messages to families that are automatically translated into different languages through “Talking Points.” (limit 600 characters)
  • If there’s a student newspaper, it could include info and/or spotlights of students who walk and bike to school.
  • School PTSAs often have a Facebook page, webpage, and email lists to get the word out.
    • Contact Brooke to present to your PTSA
  • The Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Department of Transportation communications teams are happy to spotlight events and students in social media. Local media and neighborhood blogs are often willing to spotlight events too.
  • Teachers can share with their classes. Physical Education teachers can be great people to ask!
  • Write a message in sidewalk chalk outside the school or along a walking/biking route.
  • School leadership can share in the morning announcements.
  • Teachers and students can share at a school assembly (contact Brooke for skit ideas).
  • Does your school have a reader board out front? Your school admin can put a message about your activity up there.
  • And probably most effective is word of mouth!
Sidewalk chalk that says "Meet here; Feb 15, Walk and bike to school; Free stuff"

Taking the bus or light rail to school

Two people getting on the Metro Bus Route 7.

Everyone 18 and under is free on all transit in the region (bus light rail, ferry, etc.). An Orca card is encouraged but not required.

Download this app to know when your bus is coming (in real time): OneBusAway

Use King County Trip Planner (webpage and app) to plan your bus route. Google Maps can also help find the best option.

Metro Flex is available in a few regions of the County. You can use an app or call a number for a Metro Flex van to pick you up and drop you off anywhere in the region – including school!

Find sample transit routes and tips on the ORCA card and public transit SPS webpage.


About Walking, Rolling, and Biking to School

Translations: Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, and Amharic

WHY Walking and biking to school is a fun way to get exercise, reduce congestion and pollution around schools, and create community. Studies say students who walk and bike to school arrive more alert and ready to learn!

WHAT

The district’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator (Brooke Nelson) can support you in any of these ideas and more (brnelson1@xlqx.net).

  • Lead a walk to school group or bike train. Students can meet and walk or bike in together.
  • Help with Walk to School Day on October 4.
  • Apply for a Seattle Department of Transportation grant for up to $1,000 to pay for things like street murals, warm winter clothes, and event supplies.
  • Share success stories and we’ll broadcast them in school and district newsletters.

[Spanish]

PORQUE Caminar y andar en bicicleta a la escuela es una forma divertida de hacer ejercicio, reducir la congestión y la contaminación alrededor de las escuelas y crear una comunidad. Los estudios dicen que los estudiantes que caminan o van en bicicleta a la escuela llegan más alertas y listos para aprender.

QUE

Bailey Gatzert Elementary - los estudiantes caminan en grupos a la escuela y los padres cambian en quién dirige (autobús escolar a pie).
Bailey Gatzert Elementary – los estudiantes caminan en grupos a la escuela y los padres cambian en quién dirige (autobús escolar a pie).
  • Dirija una caminata del grupo escolar o un tren en bicicleta. Los estudiantes pueden reunirse y caminar o andar en bicicleta juntos.
  • Ayuda en el Día de Caminar a la Escuela el 4 de octubre.
  • Solicite una subvención del Departamento de Transporte de Seattle de hasta $1,000 para pagar cosas como murales callejeros, ropa abrigada de invierno y suministros para eventos.
  • Comparta historias de éxito y las difundiremos en los boletines escolares y del distrito.

[Simplified Chinese]

为什么 步行和骑单车上学是一种有趣的锻炼方式,可以减少学校周围的拥塞和污染,同时可以建立社区。研究告诉我们,步行和骑单车上学的学生更加警觉同时准备好学习!

做什么

Bailey Gatzert学校学生成群结队地步行上学,家长轮流带队(步行校车)。
Bailey Gatzert学校学生成群结队地步行上学,家长轮流带队(步行校车)。
  • 带领一组学生步行到学校或单车列队。学生可以集合起来,一起步行或骑单车到学校。
  • 10月4日是帮助步行上学日。
  • 你可以来申请西雅图交通部补助金,最高可达$1,000美元,来支付街头壁画,冬天穿的温暖衣服和活动用品等费用。
  • 来与我们分享成功的故事,我们会在学校和校区新闻通讯中播出来。

[Vietnamese]

TẠI SAO Đi bộ và đi xe đạp đến trường là một hình thức thú vị để tập thể dục, giảm ùng tắc và ô nhiễm xung quanh trường học, đồng thời thiết lập cộng đồng. Các nghiên cứu cho biết những học sinh đi bộ và đạp xe đến trường sẽ tỉnh táo hơn và sẵn sàng học tập!

ĐIỀU GÌ

  • Dẫn đầu một nhóm đi bộ đến trường học hoặc đoàn xe đạp. Học sinh có thể gặp và đi bộ hoặc đạp xe cùng nhau.
  • Hãy giúp đỡ với Ngày đi bộ đến trường vào ngày 4 tháng 10.
  • Nộp đơn xin trợ cấp của Seattle Department of Transportation lên đến $1,000 để thanh toán cho những vật như bức tranh tường đường phố, quần áo ấm mùa đông và đồ dùng cho sự kiện.
  • Chia sẻ những câu chuyện thành công và chúng tôi sẽ đăng chúng lên các bản tin của trường và học khu.

[Somali]

Waayo U lugaynta iyo baaskiil ku imaanshaha dugsiga waa hab madadaalo leh oo lagu sameeyo jimicsi, lagu dhimo saxmadda iyo wasakhowga agagaarka dugsiyada, loona abuuro bulsho. Daraasaduhu waxay yiraahdeen ardayda u socota iyo baaskiilka ku taga dugsiga waxay la yimaadaan feejignaan dheeraad ah iyo diyaar u ahaan inay wax bartaan!

Maxay

  • Hoggaami baaskiil ku imaanshaha dugsiga ama isku taxa baaskiilada. Ardaydu we kulmikaraan iyaga oo u lugaynaya ama baaskiil ku tegaya dugsiga.
  • Ka Qaybqaado Maalinka Baaskiil ku Tagga Dugsiga ee October 4.
  • Dalbo maalgelinta Waaxda Isgaarsiinta Seattle ee gaareysa ilaa $1,000 oo u adeegso bixinta kharashyada farshaxanka waddooyinka, dharka xilli qaboobaha, iyo kharashaadka kulamada.
  • Nala wadaag guushaada si aanu ugu soo bandhigno warsidaha dugsiga iyo kan degmadaba.

[Amharic] 

ለምን ወደ ትምህርት ቤት በእግር እና ብስክሌት መሄድ የአካል ብቃት እንቅስቃሴ ለማድረግ፣በትምህርት ቤቶች አካባቢ ያለውን መጨናነቅ እና ብክለት ለመቀነስ እንዲሁም ማህበረሰብ ለመፍጠር አስደሳች መንገድ ነው።ወደ ትምህርት ቤት በእግር እና በብስክሌት የሚጓዙ ተማሪዎች የበለጠ ንቁ እና ለመማር ዝግጁ እንደሚሆኑ ጥናቶች ያሳያሉ!

ምንድን

  • ወደ ትምህርት ቤት ብእግር ወይም በብስክሌት የሚሄዱ ቡድን ይምሩ። ተማሪዎች ተገናኝተው አብረው በእግር ወይም ብስክሌት መሄድ ይችላሉ።
  • በየትምህርት ቤት የእግር ጉዞ ቀን -ጥቅምት 4 ያግዙ።
  • እንደ የመንገድ ላይ የግድግዳ ሥዕሎች፣ሞቃታማ የክረምት ልብሶች እና የዝግጅት አቅርቦቶች ለመግዛት የሚያስችል እስከ $1,000 የሚያክል ገንዘብ ለማግኘት ለሲያትል የትራንስፖርት ድጎማ ዲፓርትመንት ያመልክቱ።
  • የስኬት ታሪኮች ያጋሩን እና በትምህርት ቤት እና በዲስትሪክት ጋዜጣዎች ላይ እናስተላልፋቸዋለን።