DURHAM

Walking, biking, and rolling to school is sustainable, healthy, and fun. It also has the potential to strengthen social connections between families, schools, and the broader community. Education programs and encouragement activities can help families choose active travel to school where possible and foster a healthy lifestyle and self-determination for all students, regardless of whether they can currently walk or bike to school. 

Over 20 DPS schools have participated at least once in the international Bike, Walk, & Roll to School day events, with many hosting events twice a year annually! 

2025 May Bike & Roll to School Day (registered as of April 21):

• E.K. Powe Elementary

• Mangum Elementary

• Holt Elementary

• Lakewood Middle

• Lakewood Elementary

• Oak Grove Elementary

• Eastway Elementary

• Merrick-Moore Elementary

• Pearsontown Elementary

These events celebrate physical activity, promote sustainable travel, and strengthen social connections between families, schools, and the broader community. Some DPS schools participate by encouraging their students and families to walk, bike, and roll to school together at a set time, while other schools host an event within their campus.

If you'd like for your school participate or you have question, contact Donna Lopp, Safe Routes to School Educator, at Email Donna Lopp.

Activate Your Event

Inspiration from Past Events

There is often more than one way to get to and from school. Explore your options:

Walking and Biking

Transit

GoDurham is fare free and serves all DPS High Schools and most Middle Schools. Check out our one-page guides for each school to learn about how often the city bus comes, which neighborhoods it serves, and tips for arriving on time.

Walking School Buses and Bike Buses

Organizing these groups can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their students to school or as structured as a route with meeting points, a timetable, and a regularly rotated schedule of trained volunteers. 

DPS works with community partner, Bike Durham, to deliver a series of classes for elementary students to learn and practice safe biking and walking skills. This program helps build confidence, promotes critical thinking and responsibility, and encourages students and families to consider active transportation from a young age. More than 15 DPS Elementary Schools have received this programming at least once. Twelve schools are scheduled to participate in these safety classes during the 2024-25 school year.   

The walking safety portion of the program is designed to be turn-key for educators or community partners who want to offer the two-class sequence on their own schedule. DPS and Bike Durham Educators are also available to teach the classes.

The DPS Safe Routes to School team is working with the City of Durham, Durham County, and NCDOT on an ongoing basis to improve pedestrian infrastructure surrounding all DPS schools.

If you have questions or comments about infrastructure around your school, contact Michelle Pendergrass, DPS Safe Routes to School Planner at Email Michelle Pendergrass

Our program is growing, and we’re looking for ways to engage students across the district in topics surrounding active transportation (walking and biking). This could take the form of a 30-minute presentation in your class, a semester-long research project, partnership with an after-school club, or anything we might be able to dream up together.

If you have an idea for a program or want to chat, contact Donna Lopp, Safe Routes to School Educator, at Email Donna Lopp.