Walk 'n Roll to School Day - October 6, 2021

Join students and families around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking and biking to school on Oct. 6th! Walk 'n Roll to School Day is an annual event that promotes walking and biking. Our goals are to encourage physical activity, teach safe pedestrian and cycling skills, reduce traffic congestion around schools, and raise community awareness of walking and biking. Your school can register using the button below. We can provide zip-pull backpack reflectors for students at participating school, posters, and other resources if your school registers. 

We are partnering with the Vision Zero program this year. Vision Zero has a goal of achieving zero death and serious injuries on our streets. The City of Urbana has recently undertaken this important goal. You can us the link below to share information with us on unsafe locations. 

Walk to School Day - Oct. 2, 2019

In 2019, 10 schools and nearly 4,000 students participated in International Walk and Roll to School Day. Parents, teachers, neighbors, and community leaders walked with students to school where they participated in activities and events. 

​Across the country and across the globe, students walked and biked to school providing them with an opportunity to engage with their neighborhood, get some exercise, and practice pedestrian and bicycle safety. 

The Mayors from both Champaign and Urbana also joined in the festivities this year. 
​This event would not have been possible without the participation of these elementary schools
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
  • Dr. Williams (Prairie)
  • Leal 
  • Thomas Paine 
  • Wiley 
  • Yankee Ridge
  • Washington
  • Southside 
  • Carrie Busey
  • Westview
Download all Walk to School Day Materials HERE.  All documents can be downloaded in English or Spanish.

Why walk or bike to school? 

 We're glad you asked.  There are lots of reasons!


  • Exercise!  Walking and bicycling are good for your body and your brain!

  • Safety! Learn how to be a safe pedestrian so that you can enjoy being outdoors.  

  • Know your neighborhood!  Walking to school makes you aware of your environment, which keeps you safe.  It is also a great way to make new friends.

  • Help the environment! Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed around your school!

  • Make a difference! Walking to school allows you to spend more time with your friends, parents, and neighbors while doing some good for the planet.  

Where are other kids walking to school? 

Everyday, students all over the world get to school by walking, bicycling, or taking public transportation. 
Check out the map of all the schools where kids will be walking to school!
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On October 10th, 2018, nine elementary schools in Champaign-Urbana participated in the Walk n' Roll to School Day (WRTSD). Students walked and biked to school, where they were greeted and encouraged by friends, parents, teachers, and community members.

This event was celebrated throughout the country, encouraging students to make healthier choices for them and the environment. Walking and biking are great forms of exercise, and fairly easy to integrate into a child's daily routine. Walking and biking offers children an opportunity to get to know their neighborhood, learn and practice safe pedestrian habits, and prepares them for the school day. 

Thank you to the following schools for participating and making the event a success:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. 
  • Dr. Williams (Prairie) 
  • Leal 
  • Thomas Paine 
  • Wiley 
  • Yankee Ridge 
  • South Side 
  • Carrie Busey
  • Westview​
Check out the video on CU Safe Routes to School Project's Walk 'n' Roll to School Day in Urbana, by Urbana Public Television. It features an interview with City of Urbana Mayor Diane Marline and Lt. Rich Surles at the Urbana Police Department! 
Be cool and walk to school! Mark your calendars for the morning of Oct. 10th, the International Walk n' Roll to School Day. Students from Urbana and Champaign elementary schools will celebrate the fun of walking, alongside friends, families, and local celebrities.
 2016 Photos and Videos                                               See photos from previous years in the archives. 
Check out the video below from Walk 'n Roll to School Day 2016, courtesy of Urbana Public Television. 
Click on the images below for Walk 'n Roll to School Day Interviews with WCIA! 
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Students at Dr. Williams Elementary on WRTSD pc: Gabe Lewis
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Students, U of I athletes, and Staff at Wiley Elementary School pc: Annie Adams