Embrace the Joy of Walking and Biking with Lakewood’s Hike & Bike Campaign!

Are you looking for fun and healthy ways to get your kids to school? The Hike & Bike campaign, developed by Bike Lakewood, the City of Lakewood, and Lakewood City Schools, is here to make walking and biking to school an exciting routine for families. With two main goals, this campaign is designed to create connections among neighbors and ignite enthusiasm among students for active transportation. Here’s everything you need to know to join the movement!

Why Hike & Bike?

The Hike & Bike campaign focuses on encouraging elementary school students to walk or bike to school. Why start at the elementary level? It’s simple: by establishing these habits early, kids are more likely to continue walking and biking through middle and high school. Lakewood spans less than seven square miles, and with nearly every student living within a mile of their school, walking or biking just makes sense.

We understand that the daily drive to school might seem like the easiest option. For many families it feels like a time-saver, however, when you consider the time spent sitting in traffic or waiting in the car line, you might be surprised to find that walking or biking is just as quick—or even faster!

The Benefits of Active Transportation

Switching to active transportation isn’t just fun—it comes with a host of benefits for both students and the Lakewood community:

• Improved Physical Health: The American Heart Association recommends that children ages 6-17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Walking or biking to school is a great way to meet this goal, and studies show it helps kids arrive at school more focused and ready to learn.
• Environmental Impact: Fewer car trips mean less pollution. By choosing to walk or bike, you’re contributing to a healthier environment and reducing your family’s carbon footprint.
• Community Building: Walking or biking to school offers great opportunities for parents to connect with other parents and for kids to socialize with their friends outside the classroom.
• Encouraging Independence: Allowing kids to walk or bike to school helps them build confidence and independence, showing them that they can manage on their own.

Tips to Make Active Transportation Work for Your Family

1. Practice Your Route: If time is a concern, why not do a trial run? Walk or bike your route to school and see how long it takes. You might find that it’s quicker than you thought, and even if it does take a few extra minutes, simple adjustments like packing lunches the night before or getting up a bit earlier can make all the difference.
2. Prioritize Safety: We know that safety is a top priority for parents. That’s why many Lakewood elementary schools are organizing Walking School Buses. Think of it as a carpool without the car—a group of students walking to school together, often with one or more parent volunteers. Not only does this ensure safety in numbers, but it also adds a social element that kids love!

Rules for Walking School Bus Participants:

• Walk on sidewalks.
• Walk responsibly—no running, horsing around, or riding bikes/scooters.
• Be extra cautious at intersections.
• Obey all traffic signals and follow instructions from adults.

Parents are encouraged to walk with their children until they’re confident in their ability to walk responsibly on their own.

How to Get Involved

Interested in getting involved? Each Lakewood elementary school has at least one Hike & Bike “Champion”—a parent volunteer dedicated to promoting the program at their school. These champions need more parent volunteers to help supervise the Walking School Buses and assist with other tasks like placing yard signs and tracking the number of vehicles used for school transportation. The more volunteers we have, the more often we can run the Walking School Buses, making active transportation a regular part of school life. Reach out to your school’s PTA to learn more about designated walking bus routes, who your Hike & Bike Champions are, and how you can get involved. Contact info is listed at the bottom of this page

Mark Your Calendar: Hike & Bike Kick-Off Event

Get ready to see Hike & Bike signs around town from September 9-13! This kick-off event is the perfect time to start a new routine of walking or biking to school. Let’s work together to keep this momentum going throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Bike Lakewood, Lakewood City Schools, and the City of Lakewood are committed to supporting our students and families in maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle year-round.

Join us in making a difference for our children, our community, and our environment. Lace up those sneakers, hop on that bike, and let’s make every day an adventure with Hike & Bike!

Emerson Elementary: emersonelementarypto44107@gmail.com
Grant Elementary: grantptalakewood@gmail.com
Harrison Elementary: harrisonelementaryschoolpta@gmail.com
Hayes Elementary: hayesptoprez@gmail.com
Horace Mann Elementary: ptahoracemannelementary@gmail.com
Lincoln Elementary: lakewood.lincolnpta@gmail.com
Roosevelt Elementary: lkwdptaroosevelt@gmail.com
Garfield Elementary: garfieldmsptsa@gmail.com