Erskine Elementary School is walking, biking and ‘rolling’ to school every Wednesday in May

The nationwide initiative promotes active transportation and advocates for safer, healthier and more sustainable communities

Grace King

May. 17, 2023 9:49 am

Volunteer Julie McMahan walks waits to cross the street with Jackson Elementary school students Zachary and Margaux Ispentchian on Walk to School Day in NW Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette) — Students walk to school in northwest Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (The Gazette Archives)

Erskine Elementary School in Cedar Rapids is encouraging students to walk, bike or “roll” to school every Wednesday in May.

It’s a continuation of Walk Bike Roll to School Day, which was Wednesday, May 3, a nationwide initiative that promotes active transportation and advocates for safer, healthier and more sustainable communities.

The repetition and student led activities should help create some lifelong habits in the youth, according to a news release from the Safe Routes to School Manager for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.

Across the state, Walk Bike Roll Day was a huge success this year. A record-breaking 23 schools across Iowa participated in the nationwide event, promoting active transportation and healthier, more sustainable communities.

"This marks the highest number of participating schools in the state’s history, and we couldn’t be more proud," said Matt Burkey, the Safe Routes to School Coordinator for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.

Erskine Elementary School at 600 36th St SE in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette) — Erskine Elementary School at 600 36th St SE in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. (The Gazette)

From Seargent Buff to New Sharon to Decorah, students, parents and teachers came together to walk, bike or roll to school on May 3. The event brought a sense of community and school spirit and encouraged healthy and sustainable habits among our youth. With each step or pedal, participants showed their commitment to reducing traffic congestion, pollution and their carbon footprint.

Four schools registered in Iowa City. Alexander Elementary School made pins, gave away stickers and had some fun over the speaker announcements. Over 70 students participated! Some teachers even biked to school as role models, and some parents got some exercise in too by walking to school with their kids.

Clarke Community Elementary in Osceola had music, sidewalk chalk, and the mayor passing out suckers! Teachers greeted the kids coming into school and even some whole families biked together. Some of the staff members got in on the fun and biked to school as well.

In Lisbon, not every student lives in town and has to commute on part of the highway to get to school, but that didn’t stop them. A group of 20 kids met up at the city park and walked over to school together.