Our Safe Routes to School-funded outreach staff are working with communities in every corner of San Francisco to improve street safety around our city’s schools. We promote biking to school and for everyday family transportation, as well as walking, rolling, transit and carpooling to school day in and day out, as well as at major annual events.

On Oct. 4, International Walk & Roll to School Day kicked off Safe Routes to School programs for 2017-18. We celebrated with families who gathered at Excelsior Playground, the city’s first Walk & Roll to School Hub. Hundreds of students and adults were welcomed by Mayor Ed Lee, Recreation & Parks Director Phil Ginsberg, Supervisor Ahsha Safai and other local officials before heading off to nearby Cleveland Elementary, Monroe Elementary and SF Community School.

Citywide, over 10,000 students, parents and caregivers at 76 participating schools celebrated Walk & Roll to School Day, traveling to schools on foot, by bike, scooter, skateboard, yellow bus or public transit. We’re thankful to participants of all ages and to event organizers at Walk SF.

Your SF Bicycle Coalition also organized the first Walk & Roll to School Day After-Party at Playland on 43rd Avenue in the Outer Sunset. Students from nearby schools and the neighborhood brought their wheels, little siblings and afterschool appetites for an hour of play, healthy snacks and — best of all — a turn pedaling for smoothies on Presidio YMCA’s bike blender.

In addition to Walk & Roll to School Day, your SF Bicycle Coalition will continue promoting community-wide family biking activities, safer streets, and walking and biking to school throughout the year. As the school year moves forward, let’s plan and participate together! For information about an upcoming Safe Routes to School community meetings in your neighborhood, email nancy@sfbike.org.