WALK N' ROLL SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER

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Welcome Back to School from Walk 'n Roll!

We are excited to kick off a new school year with students and their family across San José! The Walk n' Roll Program supports safe and healthy habits by helping students walk, bike, scoot, and roll to school. We provide resources, events, and hands-on support to make active transportation fun, safe, and accessible for every student.

This year, we are trying a new newsletter format, with updates in September (Back to School Safety), October (Daylight Saving and Halloween), and April (Spring and National Bike Month). We'll be sharing safety tips, fun events, and resources to help everyone start the year off on the right foot - or wheel! Cheers to a safe and active school year ahead!

Walk n' Roll also works to address broader challenges that affect how students get to school. In some schools, we help organize walking and rolling groups with adult supervision, making travel safer and building a sense of community while reducing stress for families. We also partner with our School Safety Team to conduct Access and Circulation studies, helping identify ways to improve traffic flow and safety around school sites. If your school is interested in a study, please reach out! Learn more about these studies and how they can benefit your school here: San Jose School Safety Program.

City of San José Department of Transportation News

The San José City Council gave the Vision Zero traffic safety initiative another tool to combat speeding-related collisions yesterday. Councilmembers adopted a resolution to lower speed limits on 23 street segments around the city. The resolution also maintains the current speed limit on three street segments that would otherwise have been raised to be more in line with traffic speeds. The move takes advantage of a pair of state laws meant to address dangerous speeds on high-injury streets.

The street segments that will have their speed limits reduced can be found HERE. You can help! Pay attention to the posted speed limit whenever you drive. By slowing down, paying attention, and obeying the rules of the road, you will help bring us closer to our goal of zero traffic fatalities.

Events Coming to You

These events are a fun way for schools to boost community spirit and encourage healthy habits. Stay tuned for more details and tips on how to get your school involved!

International Walk 2 School Day

We are excited to celebrate International Walk and Bike to School Day (IW2SD) with you this year! Schools across San José - and around the world - will be taking part on Wednesday, October 1st, but your school can choose the date that works best. It is a great way to kick off the year by showing the benefits of walking and biking to school: staying healthy, improving air quality, and reducing traffic.

Did you know IW2SD started in the late 1990s? The U.S., U.K., and Canada each held their own Walk to School Day events until 2000, when they decided to team up and make it an international celebration. Today, more than 40 countries join in!

We already have many schools signed up. If your school has not registered yet, please let your Walk n' Roll coordinator know so we can get you started. Our team provides free event materials like flyers, prizes, and more. Some schools even request safety assemblies to teach students about safe walking and biking before the big day.

To get involved, reach out to us at [email protected]. Let's make IW2SD a celebration to remember!

Back to School Safety: Slow Down and Stay Alert in School Zones

As students head back to the classroom, mornings and afternoons around schools can get very busy with parents dropping off and picking up kids. That means more traffic - and the need for extra caution. School zones have slower speed limits for a reason: driving slowly gives you more time to see children and stop if they cross the street.

The most important rule is simple: stay alert. Phones, food, or even changing the music can distract a driver for just a few seconds - and in a school zone, that distraction could cause an accident. Always keep your eyes on the road and watch for children walking, biking, or getting off buses.

Here are some key safety tips to keep everyone safe around schools:

Safe driving makes drop-off and pick-up less stressful for everyone. Please slow down, stay alert, and watch for students crossing. Your safe driving helps keep kids, families, and schools safe every single day!