By the California Department of Public Health ATRC Team
As National Bike & Roll to School Day wrapped up last month, schools and active transportation partners generated remarkable momentum, registering over 2,500 events nationwide, with California registering the most in the country at 325 events. For active transportation implementers, these annual events can provide valuable opportunities to address the safety needs of students who bike and roll to school.
Every year in the United States, over 100,000 children under 19 years old are treated in an emergency room for bicycle-related injuries (Safe Kids Worldwide). While scrapes, cuts, and broken bones are the most common injuries, head injuries are the most severe and result in the most fatalities. Among bicycle-related fatalities, more than three-quarters were not wearing a helmet, according to earlier research (Nationwide Children’s Hospital). These sobering statistics highlight the continuing need for promoting safe biking skills and helmet use, building safe transportation environments, and forming local cross-sector collaborations that help foster and encourage a culture of safety for our young active commuters.
We see this collaborative approach in action through successful regional efforts across California. Events such as those that took place in Fresno, Long Beach, South Pasadena, and San Miguel broke down silos between local entities, uniting schools, hospitals, public health departments, public works, law enforcement agencies, and elected officials. While each community celebrated uniquely – from highlighting e-bike safety, family-friendly educational events, school commutes, and pop-up temporary bike lanes – every event prioritized injury prevention education, such as helmet use, knowing and following the rules of the road, and other safe riding practices. These celebrations can serve as a powerful catalyst to kickstart larger Safe Routes to School initiatives that yield permanent engineering improvements like protected bike lanes and keep students rolling to and from school safely.
California’s Active Transportation Program supports these yearly events as non-infrastructure (NI) programming. Eligible NI expenses include safety gear such as helmets, which can be used during skill-building activities or offered as student incentives for participating in an educational opportunity. When planning NI programming, make sure to review the ATP NI Program Expenditure and Cost Guidance thoroughly before including these items. Lastly, for any Bike & Roll to School Day ATP-funded events, please submit event photos via this form. We love to see and share your good work in action!
Image credit: Andres Jimenez Larios/Bay City News