• 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. 

    SRTS programming for Durham Public Schools students is currently funded by a non-infrastructure grant (2023-2025) from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 

  • School Trips are Better Together

    Walking School Buses and Bike Trains

    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. 

    Resource: Tips for Starting a Walking Group

    Resource: Safe Routes Partnership: How to Start a Walking School Bus 

    Resource: Bike Bus World

    Carpool

    Find a neighbor with a similar schedule and share the responsibilities of getting your students to school and back. 

  • Education: Bike Riding and Walking Safety Classes

    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.    

    Walking Safety Program Summary

  • Encouragement: Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day

    Over 20 DPS schools have participated in this international event at least once, with many schools hosting events twice a year annually! 

    October 2024 Event Recap

    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.

    Activate Your Event

    Walk and Roll BingoBingo Caminar y Rodar

    Walking AssessmentEvaluacion de caminata

  • Planning and Infrastructure

    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 michelle_pendergrass@dpsnc.net

  • Safe Routes Programming at your School!

    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 donna_lopp@dpsnc.net