Students of Rock Creek Valley Elementary School in Rockville and Montgomery County Officials Take Part in ‘Bike & Roll to School Day’

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Rock Creek Valley Elementary School students joined thousands of students across Montgomery County and around the world to participate in Bike & Roll to School Day today, Wednesday, May 3. Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, County Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Chris Conklin, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, participated in the event, which promotes biking and walking to schools as a healthier, greener travel alternative.

Bike & Roll to School Day is a global event that encourages students to walk, bike or scooter to school. The initiative focuses on active lifestyles and the benefits of walkable communities. 

The event was organized by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Safe Routes to School program as part of the Vision Zero plan. MCDOT and Vision Zero staff were on site distributing safety education materials and giveaways. Students also met Zeal, the Traffic Safety Zebra, and Sparky, the Fire and Rescue Dog.

“Bike and Roll to School Day is a great way to develop healthy habits and encourage biking and walking as a primary means of transportation,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Montgomery County has invested in an infrastructure that promotes cyclist and pedestrian safety, including sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks and trails. The ability to walk and bike safely to school is an important part of what makes communities thrive.”

By incorporating exercise into their daily routine, students can create habits that promote a lifetime of healthier living.

Regular physical activity not only reduces childhood obesity, but also improves concentration and memory, strengthens the immune system, improves sleep and reduces stress.

“Vision Zero is about facilitating safe, accessible pathways for all modes of transportation,” said MCDOT Director Conklin. “By choosing to walk or ride a bike to school, students can incorporate physical activity into their daily life. We have been working to make our school walksheds safer; we are currently conducting walk safety audits of each of our 214 public schools for pedestrian safety improvements. We have completed just over 50 so far. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is a critical component of fostering healthy, vibrant communities.”

Partners in Bike & Roll to School Day include Montgomery County Police, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and Montgomery County Public Schools.

To learn more about National Bike and Roll to School Day, visit walkbiketoschool.org. Visitors will find ideas and best practices from the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

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Release ID: 23-055
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282