Michigan Students Celebrate Walk & Roll to School Day

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Oct. 1, 2025 - PRLog -- Michigan students will join children from around the globe to celebrate National Walk & Roll to School Day (WR2SD) on Wednesday, October 8. Started in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America, WR2SD has grown to an international event that takes place in over 40 countries worldwide.

The event is being promoted by Safe Routes to School (SRTS) at Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF), a federally legislated program administered by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). SRTS programs are designed to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children and their families to walk, roll, and bike to school, as well as ease traffic jams, reduce air pollution, and unite neighborhoods. They also raise awareness about important issues like increasing physical activity among children.

"Walk and Roll to School Day offers an opportunity for students and families to incorporate more physical activity into their daily routines," said MFF President and CEO Amy Ghannam. "Across Michigan, MDOT provides safe, accessible, and efficient active transportation infrastructure that ensures people are connected to the essential places they need to travel to each day."

"Our transportation system is about moving people safely in a variety of ways," said MDOT Office of Economic Development Administrator Mike Kapp. "Having a day dedicated to students walking and rolling to school is great because it highlights non-motorized modes of transportation and the infrastructure available to the community to be more active."

By providing infrastructure that makes it easy to walk, bike, and roll, people gain a sensory experience that helps to foster a deeper connection with their surroundings. They are also likely to spend more time being active, and that is good for community health.

WR2SD events can be as straightforward or as grand as schools want to plan — from simply inviting students to walk to school, to hosting a pedestrian parade, or organizing a walking school bus.

"To get ready for the event, we recommend students start by making plans with a group of friends to meet up in their neighborhood and travel to school together on Walk to School Day," said MFF Safe Routes to School Director Max Fulkerson. "We encourage parents and school staff to join the commute too, so everyone can experience the joy of the event and learn how to best support students that regularly walk and bike to school in their community."

Registration is open and all registered schools receive planning assistance from MFF SRTS program staff. To register, visit https://saferoutesmichigan.org/walk-to-school-day.