Medford Celebrated Walk Bike and Roll to School Day

Schools across Medford celebrated Massachusetts Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day together on May 3! 

At Missituk Elementary, an informal tally showed 59 percent of the students in the school participated in some manner. Some walked, biked, rollerbladed, or rode scooters; bus students got an early dropoff and walked a quarter of a mile to the school; Before School students enjoyed a walk around the school before marking their participation; and some students arriving by car even joined in with an extra walk around school property before adding their name to the tally. Medford Police Chief Buckley accompanied walkers from Tufts Park and handed out stickers and bookmarks to the kids at Missituk. Congratulations to Mrs. Galizio's third grade class who won the coveted 'Golden Shoe Award' for the class with the highest percentage of participating students (85 percent!). 

At Roberts Elementary, the day kicked off a whole month of Walking Wednesdays. Each week, four walking groups walk to school together from neighborhood meeting spots, and all walkers and bikers are celebrated. The kindergarteners were this year’s winners of the ‘Golden Sneaker’ award! 

The Middle Schools had bike train routes from Medford Square, South Medford, and West Medford, using the Mystic River Paths and the future Clippership Connector – which we're excited to announce will be going out to bid this summer and completely transform the ability of our middle schoolers and Hormel Stadium users to get to and from these locations on a dedicated multi-user path, hopefully by next fall! Mayor Lungo-Koehn joined the middle schoolers on the route from Fulton Heights. High school bike trains rode from the Wellington area and Tufts, Dugger, and Carr Parks to MHS. School principals distributed front and rear bike lights and bike helmets from the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission (MBAC) to students who needed them. State law now states that children under 16 must wear a helmet, and all cyclists must have rear and front lights after dusk.  

We're grateful to all the school administrators, parents, volunteers, bus drivers, police officers, and crossing guards who make this day a success...and especially to the sun for its well-timed appearance amid a rainy week! 

Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. In 1969, 48 percent of American students bicycled or walked to school, but today, less than 13% of children walk or bicycle to classes. In some communities, school-related traffic can contribute up to 25 percent of morning rush hour volumes, as well as significant air pollution.

More information on Walk Medford, who are working to make it easier and safer to walk in Medford.
More about MA Safe Routes to School.
More information about Medford Walk Bike and Roll.