Hundreds of North Carolina Communities Gear Up for Bike to School Day

by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) 05/12/2017

More than 2,000 events scheduled nationwide

RALEIGH – Hundreds of communities across North Carolina will celebrate the joy of pedaling to school on May 10 during National Bike to School Day, a one-day event that is part of a national effort to encourage more families to consider getting to school on bike or foot.

“Bike to School Day reinforces the benefits of bicycling and the importance of bicycle safety while bringing families and neighborhoods together,” said David Howard, Chief Deputy Secretary of the N.C. Department of Transportation. “We remind bicyclists to wear helmets, and motorists to watch for bicyclists and give at least four feet of space when passing.”

Howard and several local officials will join students, teachers and families at the Bike to School Day event at Mt. Airy Middle School.

In North Carolina, record numbers of students will be two-wheeling to school all month long during National Bike Month. More than 180 North Carolina schools have registered events, setting a new record for participation in the state. While North Carolina is the ninth most populous state in the country, it ranks second in the number of registered Bike to School Day events.

“NCDOT encourages families to look for chances to ride a bicycle in May and year-round,” continued Howard.

The growing popularity of Bike to School Day in North Carolina is due in large part to Active Routes to School, a partnership project between NCDOT and the North Carolina Division of Public Health. Ten regional coordinators are working to make it easier for elementary and middle school students around the state to safely bike and walk, both to and at school.

Coordinated by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, Bike to School Day gives communities across the country the opportunity to join together in bicycling to school on the same day. The national event is part of the movement for year-round safe routes to school and encourages bicycling to school as a healthy way for kids and families to make their school commute. For more information and a full list of participating schools in North Carolina, visit walkbiketoschool.org.

***NCDOT***