Now in its eighth year, the popular Walk Bike & Roll to School Day returns to Coconut Grove on Thursday, with 12 participating public and private schools.
Twelve Coconut Grove public and private schools will participate in Walk Bike and Roll to School Day (WBRTSD) on Thursday November 14 from 7 to 9 a.m.
This is the eighth year of the increasingly popular program, which encourages parents and children to find alternatives to the usual pattern of too many cars and congested streets during the opening and closing hours of school. Past events have demonstrated significant reductions in traffic.
Usually, WBRTSD is done once in the spring and again in the fall. The fall version this year was originally scheduled for October 17. When news spread of a possible hurricane, the event was postponed to this week.
Lotte Purkis, whose two daughters graduated from Coconut Grove Elementary School several years ago, is the WBRTSD coordinator. Working closely with the BikeSafe / WalkSafe program at the University of Miami, she has organized a broad coalition of schools and organizations.
“The event is an example of what could be in the future for children and families commuting to school — getting cars off the road and getting children and families to school in a safe way,” Purkis says.
Whether on foot or wheels, parents and their children will see a variety of improvements to local streets Thursday morning. They include a two-way “pop-up” bike path on Matilda Street adjacent to Coconut Grove Elementary and pop-up “slow street” cones at Frances S. Tucker Elementary on Douglas Road. The students at Tucker, many of whom walk to school, will be rewarded with treats donated by the local Dunkin’ Donuts.
The pop-ups are intended as models for future permanent installations. Thanks to Coconut Grove Police Commander Daniel Kerr and his team, Miami police officers will be stationed throughout the Grove to ensure the safe passage of parents and children.
For families who live too far away for biking and walking, BWRTSD will provide remote parking areas within easy walking and biking distance of local schools.
“Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and participate as Coconut Grove experiences the promise of healthier communities and safer streets,” says Purkis.
Click on this map to view details of the various improvements and activities for BWRTSD on Thursday.
To stay connected for future editions of the program, click here.
Hank Sanchez-Resnik is president of Bike Coconut Grove and was one of the originators of Bike Walk Roll to School Day in Coconut Grove. He is also a member of the board of directors of Friends of the Commodore Trail.
