Seattle Public Schools

Walk, Bike, and Roll

Get Involved

Walk, Bike, Roll Volunteer Information

volunteer standing at park wearing "Seattle Bike Bus" t-shirt
Bike Bus leader, Anna Z., at South Shore PK-8. Photo by Doc (Peace Peloton).

Thank you for volunteering to support walk, bike, and roll programs!

Walking and biking to school is a fun way to get exercise, reduce traffic and pollution, build community, and promote youth independence. Studies say students who walk and bike to school arrive more alert and ready to learn.

These benefits are possible through the commitment and dedication of volunteers like you!

Step 1: Sign Up

Visit the SPS Volunteer Page (below) to apply to be a Category A volunteer. Please allow time for processing (about 2 weeks) before starting your program or event. All Walk and Bike volunteers must be registered before their commitment. Contact your school’s volunteer liaison for assistance and verification.


Step 2: Find a Program

Get connected to a walk or bike program at your school or in your neighborhood. Email Brooke to connect to group organizers.

Don’t see your school on the list? Check with your school and your neighbors to see if other families or students are already walking and biking to school. Join in if possible, and start a program or event to include more people!

a group of students biking on the street

Walk

  • John Muir Elementary
  • Dunlap Elementary
  • Bailey Gatzert Elementary
  • Wing Luke Elementary

Bike

  • South Shore PK-8
  • Viewlands Elementary
  • Dunlap Elementary

These schools participate in Walk to School Day and Walk Month in October.

  • Alki Elementary
  • Arbor Heights Elementary
  • Bryant Elementary
  • Concord International Elementary
  • Daniel Bagley Elementary 
  • Decatur Elementary
  • Gatewood Elementary
  • Green Lake Elementary
  • Highland Park Elementary
  • John Muir Elementary
  • Lafayette Elementary
  • Lawton Elementary
  • Licton Springs Elementary
  • Louisa Boren STEM K-8
  • Lowell Elementary
  • Olympic Hills Elementary
  • Orca K-8
  • Roosevelt High
  • Roxhill Elementary at EC Hughes 
  • Salmon Bay Elementary
  • Seattle World School
  • Stevens Elementary
  • Thurgood Marshall Elementary
  • West Woodland Elementary 
  • Whitman Middle School

These schools participate in Bike to School Day and Bike Month in May.

  • Adams Elementary
  • Alki Elementary
  • Arbor Heights Elementary
  • Concord International Elementary
  • Dearborn Park Elementary
  • Genesee Hill Elementary
  • Greenlake Elementary
  • Eckstein Middle School
  • Hazel Wolf K-8
  • James Baldwin Elementary
  • Loyal Heights Elementary
  • McDonald Elementary
  • Orca K-8
  • Queen Anne Elementary
  • Stevens Elementary
  • West Woodland Elementary
  • Whitman Middle School

Start a Program

Image of campaign guide thumbnail on the city's webpage.

Starting a program can help connect more students and families, help caregivers share responsibilities, make the trip more fun!

Check out the Campaign Guide in the “Get Involved” section of the Seattle Department of Transportation page for details on starting programs and gaining support at your school.

First, check with your neighbors and your school to see who is already walking to school – can you join them? If your school doesn’t have a walk group organized, follow the tips below to get started.

Safety

  • Choose a route and test it for safety: Look at your school’s walk and bike route map to help find the best route. Ask yourself:
    • Which route stays off busy streets as much as possible?
    • Are there sidewalks or paths on busy streets?
    • Where is the best place to cross busy streets?
    • Where are adult crossing guards posted?
  • Safe street crossing education: Check out the Cascade Bicycle Club videos below to support you, other volunteers, and youth in crossing streets safely.
  • Pre-walk your route to look for hazards and check timing for each stop and arriving to school on time.

Coordination

  • Create a contact list with phone numbers and/or emails of interested volunteers and student caregivers. Choose a communication platform that works best for your group (email, WhatsApp, text) and start a group message for reminders, updates, and cancellations.
  • Decide how often you will walk together (everyday, once a week, once a month) and where and what time children will meet the “bus”?
    • What is your inclement weather policy?
    • What to do if the volunteer will be unable to lead the walking school bus on a particular day?
    • How long will you wait for late arrivals?
  • Spread the word at school using posters, flyers, etc. Reach out to parents who live along your route.

Supplies and Resources

  • Request a Walking School Bus package to equip your group with safety vests, lights, first aid kits, and flags.
    • Leaders at Tier 1 and Tier 2 equity schools can potentially qualify for a stipend for each trip through an SDOT Mini Grant.
    • Once you have an established Walking School Bus route that meets regularly, SDOT can provide you with yard signs to post along your route and/or install colorful designs on the sidewalk along your route to school.

First, check with your neighbors and your school to see who is already biking to school – can you join them? If your school doesn’t have a bike group organized, follow the tips below to get started.

Learn the specifics of starting a Bike Train or Bike Bus to school from our partners at Cascade Bicycle Club.

Get inspiration and advice from our neighbors in Portland: Bike Bus PDX.

Contact your Safe Routes Coordinator brnelson1@xlqx.net for help hosting a volunteer training or pre-riding a route.

Safety

  • Choose a route and test it for safety. Look at your school’s walk and bike route map to help find the best route. Look for neighborhood greenways, healthy streets, bike trails, and bike lanes. Consider starting your route at a park or P-Patch for a protected area for youth to gather.
    • Pre-ride your route to look for hazards (car pull outs, and plan road crossing procedures at intersections).
      • Check timing for any stops you plan along the way to ensure timely arrival to school.
  • Biking skills and education: Organize a leader training and youth skills check before you start. Learn more from this Community Based Ride Leader Training, and the basics listed below.
    • Before each ride complete three safety checks for all riders:
    • Group Riding Basics:
      • Roles: It is recommended to have one adult rider for every 2-3 children.
        • Front and rear adult riders to make sure children are all ‘aboard’ together.
        • Middle adult riders help with corking (blocking cars at intersections so the group can roll through together).
      • Mechanics: maintain one bike-distance between each rider, ride single file, no swerving, use hand signals and voices to indicate turns, stops, and hazards.

Coordination

  • Create a contact list with phone numbers and/or emails of interested people. Choose a communication platform that works best for your group (email, WhatsApp, text) and start a group message for reminders, updates, and cancellations.
  • Decide how often you will roll together (everyday, once a week, once a month) and where and what time children will meet the bike bus/train?
    • What is your inclement weather policy?
    • What to do if a volunteer will be unable to lead on a particular day?
  • Spread the word at school using posters, flyers, etc. Reach out to parents who live along your route.

Supplies and Resources

  • Seattle Department of Transportation Supplies: Request a free Bus Bus package, encouragement supplies, or prizes to equip your group with helmets, lights, locks and other supplies.
    • Leaders at Tier 1 and Tier 2 equity schools can potentially qualify for a stipend for each trip through an SDOT Mini Grant.
    • Once you have an established Bike Bus route that meets regularly, SDOT can provide you with yard signs to post along your route and/or install colorful designs on the sidewalk along your route to school.
  • Organize a bike swap, bike drive, or repair party to support students in need of bikes or repairs.
  • Reach out to your coordinator brnelson1@xlqx.net to bring awareness to your group’s specific supply and safety needs.

What if I or my child can’t walk, bike, or roll all the way?
That’s okay! If you’re able, park your car a couple blocks away from school and walk in. (If you drive, please avoid driving along the route.) Busing is great too!

What can students do with their bikes during and after school?
Lock bikes at school racks or check with school staff to see if there is bike parking inside. Bikes are not allowed on school buses, but you can bring them on the Metro bus and light rail.

Volunteer Liability: The Volunteer Protection Act protects registered SPS volunteers from liability if they are volunteering with a walk, bike, and roll to school program, unless the volunteer acts with gross negligence (is extremely or deliberately harmful).


Recruit Volunteers

Need more volunteers to support your program?

  • Connect to your school community
    • Your Safe Routes Coordinator can deliver a presentation to your PTSA, School Building Safety Committee, or your staff.
  • Reach out to local organizations and community groups who have a stake in youth safety, environmental action, or transportation to request volunteer support and help getting the word out
    • Community partnership programs at your school: Check your school website for a full list of partners.
      • Examples include: City Year, Girls on the Run, Peace Streets, RBAC, and the Boys and Girls Club
    • Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is a volunteer organization to reclaim Seattle’s streets and make them safer for all ages, ethnicities, genders and abilities. Connect with your local neighborhood group to share about your program and volunteer needs.
    • Local bike shops and organizations
    • Libraries
    • Community Centers
    • Places of worship

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