Overview
LCPS’s Safe Routes to School program aims to make it safer for students to walk, roll, and bike to school and encourage more active transportation where safety is not a barrier.
We recognize the value of having a chance to try something new—like walking to school!—and have seen how events, such as Walk & Roll to School Day or Bike & Roll to School Day, can bring students, parents & communities together.
The benefits of active transportation extend beyond health. Studies show that there are links between physical activity and academic achievement; proving that active kids do better.
Walk & Roll to School Day
Walk & Roll to School Day is an annual event that involves communities from across the country (and globe!) walking and rolling to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Today, thousands of schools across America—from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—participate every October. Over time, this celebration has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school. Join the movement!
Upcoming Walk/Roll to School Day events: October 7, 2025
To register, contact your Health & PE Resource Teacher & Safe Routes to School Coordinator Email Kelly Smit or visit the Walk, Bike & Roll to School website.
Bike to School Day
The first-ever national Bike & Roll to School Day took place on May 9, 2012, in coordination with the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month. Today, thousands of schools across America—from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—participate every May to encourage children to safely walk, bike or roll to school. Join the movement!
Upcoming Bike to School Day events: May 6, 2026.
To register, contact your Health & PE Resource Teacher & Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Kelly Smit or visit the Walk, Bike & Roll to School website.
Crossing Guard Appreciation Day
Crossing Guard Appreciation Day (CGAD) is a statewide event devoted to saying thank you to those who help students cross the street safely on their way to and from school. CGAD has been celebrated in Virginia since 2014. Virginia has designated the 2nd Wednesday in February as Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. February 11, 2026 is our next event. Let's show our crossing guards how much we value them!
How can my school participate in Crossing Guard Appreciation Day?
Your community can also nominate your crossing guard for Virginia's Most Outstanding Crossing Guard Award. Crossing guards are honored by VDOT every year for their dedication to student safety. All nominees are sent letters of appreciation. Winners are sent a certificate and a small gift. Contact your Safe Routes to School Coordinator for more information on nominating your school's crossing guard.
Congratulations to our 2023 VA Crossing Guards of the Year Winners!
Dave Becker at Emerick Elementary & Blue Ridge Middle School & Courtney Markowski at Round Hill Elementary School!
Congratulations to our 2022 VA Crossing Guards of the Year Winners!
Dina Perry at Belmont Station Elementary School & Stephen Rollins at Seldens Landing Elementary School!
Bike Rodeos
A bike rodeo is an obstacle course designed to help kids learn bike safety skills. You will need a large, flat space (e.g. a parking lot, tennis court, or blacktop) where you can set up different stations to test maneuvering skills such as stop/starting, turning, balancing, etc. Your Safe Routes to School Coordinators can help you set up a bike rodeo at your school and provide a helmet, fit station including FREE HELMETS for children that need one courtesy of the Loudoun Pediatric Obesity Council Mini Grant (LPOC). Interested in having a bike rodeo at your school or obtaining a guide to setting up your own bike rodeo? Contact Email Kelly Smit for information.
Bike Donation Program
The LCPS Bike Donation Program is a collaborative effort with Maverick Bike Café, Doug Landau Law Office, Bike Loudoun and LCPS. The program is active between September and May each year. The goal is to supply bikes to students in need, particularly in our Title I or Title I eligible schools but is available to all LCPS schools that have students in need. Students will receive a bike, helmet, lock and lights along with safety information. If your school is interested in being considered for our fall or spring donation event, please Email Kelly Smit.
Pedestrian Safety Program
To stay safe and healthy on the roads, pedestrians and motorists need to respect each other. Safe Routes to School in conjunction with LCPS’s Department of Teaching & Learning has developed a pedestrian safety lesson & kit to help students become safe & responsible pedestrians
The core components of the lesson include:
Teach children to recognize and obey all traffic signs and signals
Teach children to walk on the sidewalk whenever possible
Teach children to stop and look before crossing driveways and alleys
Teach children to listen to crossing guards and follow their signals
Teach children to cross streets only at corners or at crosswalks
Teach children to be alert and aware at all times
Teach children to cross streets carefully
Please reach out to Kelly Smit with the Department of Teaching & Learning to learn more about the pedestrian safety kit.
Bike Trains
Leesburg Elementary School successfuly started the first bike train for LCPS.
What is a Bike Train?
Bike Trains or Walking trains afre parents organized and volunteer to lead trains with a route and schedule, much like a bus route. What a fun way to go to school after a morning ride or walk, plus parents get to knock out some morning or afternoon exercise!
The benefits are boundless, especially for students who spend a good part of their day sitting. They too can get their daily dose of exercise, relieve anxiety, and have positive social interaction with their friends and grown-ups.
How Do I Organize a Bike Train?
Contact your schools admin for approval
Organize parent volunteers
Reach out to LCPS Safe Routes to School to set up a bike safety rodeo
Pick a location and then map the route to go by certain locations to meet, such as homes, street corners, or parks.
·
Ride/walk the route to determine how
long it takes from start to the school door. Keep in mind there may be brief delays before the train gets rolling again at each stop.
Set the times for each stop point for children and parents to meet, join or “drop off” a child along the route.
Plan on taking no more than 30 minutes to arrive at school.
Distribute a map to other families to join in.
Contact Kelly Smit (kelly.smit@lcps.org) for help getting started
