Schools across Riverside County joined the Walk & Roll to School Day event on Wednesday.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Students across Riverside County laced up their sneakers and hopped on their bikes Wednesday morning in celebration of National Walk and Roll to School Day, a nationwide event promoting exercise, community safety, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.
Starting around 7 a.m., students from campuses in Indio, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, Temecula, and Winchester joined in on the annual event.
This year, more than 2,750 schools across the country, including 305 in California, registered to participate. In Riverside County, parents, teachers, and community volunteers formed “walking school buses” to safely guide groups of children to their campuses, creating a fun and active way to start the school day.
In Indio, students at Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary walked and rolled to class. Jurupa Valley schools joining the event included Granite Hill Elementary, Mission Bell Elementary, Pedley Elementary, and Rustic Lane Elementary. In Menifee, Chester W. Morrison Elementary and Southshore Elementary took part, while Palm Springs saw participation from Cielo Vista Charter School and Raymond Cree Middle School. Temecula’s participating schools included Crowne Hill Elementary, Vail Ranch Middle School, and Temecula Luiseno Elementary School. In Winchester,
Susan La Vorgna Elementary and Summit Academy also joined in.
Students were encouraged to ride their bicycles as well, promoting both fitness and environmentally friendly transportation.
“National Walk & Roll to School Day is a great opportunity to highlight pedestrian safety and advocate for safer routes for walking and biking to school,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Marcos Acosta. “This day underscores the importance of boosting physical activity and prioritizing the safety of families in our community.”
Organizers added that walking programs help reduce childhood obesity and raise awareness about the importance of pedestrian access and safety on busy roadways.
Students, parents, and teachers were reminded to stay on marked sidewalks or walking paths, use crosswalks, remain alert at intersections, and wear bright or reflective clothing to stay visible to drivers.
More information about National Walk & Roll to School Day is available at www.walkbiketoschool.org.
