Alameda County Transportation Commissioner Elisa Márquez greets students at Burbank Elementary School on International Walk and Roll to School Day 2023.

Every October, schools across the county—and the world—celebrate International Walk and Roll to School Day. The celebration is designed to encourage students, families and the school community to roll, walk, bicycle, take transit, or use other non-motorized transportation to get to school.

This year, we celebrated International Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Throughout the day, students shared how they got to school by placing a sticker on our mode chart under the corresponding category that matched how they got to school. Participating students received fun giveaways and took part in a global event with students around the world.

With more than 100 Alameda County schools reporting in, over 10,000 students walked, more than 4,300 rolled (biked and scootered), over 3,300 carpooled, and more than 1,000 took school buses or public transit! Check out the breakdown in the chart below:

Why Should We Celebrate and Encourage Walking and Rolling to School?

• In one generation, the number of kids walking and bicycling to school has dropped from 71% to 18%.
• Transportation is responsible for nearly 40% of the Bay Area’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
• Seventy-five percent of California students are not able to pass basic fitness standards.
• Travel to school accounts for approximately 21% of all morning traffic.
• It is an easy way for children to get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.