Registration now open for inaugural National Bike to School Day

The National Center for Safe Routes to School, in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists, is pleased to be organizing the first-ever National Bike to School Day on May 9, 2012. Let the bike bells ring – event registration is now open at www.walkbiketoschool.org.

"Communities and schools have been holding spring walk and bicycle to school days for years," said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. "This inaugural celebration not only provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate National Bike to School Day, but also to build off of the energy of National Bike Month."

Schools, communities and families can join others across the country in this inaugural event and registered events and "resources" will have a chance to win a bike rack. There are several ways to get involved in Bike to School Day:

Be a pioneer. Free event registration is available at www.walkbiketoschool.org for individuals and/or organizations planning a 2012 Bike to School Day event in the United States. Registering an event provides organizers access to a variety of brand new downloadable materials, including stickers, certificates, badges and classroom activities.
Be a resource. Do you have free expertise, time, materials, information, funding or other resources to share? Register as a Resource and help others find you.
Be a winner... did we mention you could win a bike rack?

What is Bike to School Day?

The inaugural National Bike to School Day will be the first opportunity for communities across the country to join together to bicycle to school on the same day. The event builds on the excitement surrounding National Bike Month, led by the League of American Bicyclists each May, as well as the popularity of Walk to School Day, coordinated by the National Center for Safe Routes to School every October.

The National Center is also pleased to launch a newly redesigned website – www.walkbiketoschool.org – to support celebration of Bike to School Day in May, Walk to School Day in October and walking and biking to school every day. The updated website includes new event planning resources as well as a brand-new, GIS-powered mapping tool. Map-a-Route allows users to create and share bicycling or walking routes to school via easy-to-use maps.

Enter to Win a Bike Rack

Need an extra incentive to participate in this inaugural event? Registered schools and communities will be entered into the Bike to School Day Bike Rack Giveaway! Each Wednesday beginning April 18, two registrants will be selected to win a Saris bike rack for the school of their choice. A total of 10 bike racks will be given away. The sooner an event coordinator registers, the more chances he or she has to win a bike rack for the school or community. At the end of Bike Month, a registered resource person will win a bike rack for the school of his or her choice.

National Bike to School Day is an exciting first for both those who are new to the experience and to those who have been celebrating a trip to school on two wheels for years. Stay tuned at www.walkbiketoschool.org/go/whos-biking/2012 to see "Who's Biking" in 2012. Here's to a safe and fun – and first ever — National Bike to School Day.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is housed within HSRC. It serves as the information clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program. To learn more, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org.