Walk & Roll to School: The Positive Environmental and Health Impacts

Guests: Stephen Heiny, research associate, Highway Safety Research Center, University of North Carolina (UNC), and Ishaa Gadkari, State Physical Activity Coordinator, RI Department of Health - Healthy Eating and Active Living Program (HEAL).

In 1969, 48 percent of students in grades K-8 walked or rode a bike to school. In 2017, only 11 percent of students in grades K-8 eight walked or rode bikes to school. Research studies identify safety concerns as the primary reason for the decrease. Safety considerations include traffic volume and speed, sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure, incidents of crime and levels of policing. In this episode, we talk about how to redesign community environments in ways that support safe routes to school and events like the National Walk & Roll to School Day, an annual October event. We also discuss the environmental and health benefits of walking to school.

Stephen Heiny joins us from the Highway Safety Research Center. He focuses on youth active travel safety, Vision Zero and the Safe System approach, supporting safety efforts in North Carolina and across the United States. He evaluates speed reduction countermeasures, provides technical assistance for Safe Routes to School programs and supports the annual Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day events.

Ishaa Gadkari joins us from the RI Department of Health. As the State Physical Activity Coordinator, she directs the Healthy Eating and Active Living Program (HEAL). Ishaa specializes in projects related to the built environment, active transportation and physical activity. She is passionate about walkable cities and environments, public transportation and health policy. She supports city and town fun runs and walks, Safe Routes to School, Walking School Bus and Safe Routes to Parks.

INFORMATION RESOURCES

Register Your School for Walk & Roll Day - https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/

This website provides resources for planning and publicizing your event.

Download STEM lessons on Pedestrian Safety from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/pedestrian-bicyclist/step/step-stem-lessons

Lessons include real-world examples of the key concepts, hands-on activities including building mock streetscapes and calculations for older students.

Learn more about Safe Routes to School - https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/safe-routes-school/101/6-Es

Read about Bike Buses: Let's Bike to School Together -https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SRTS_BikeBusGuide_2025.pdf

Visit RI's Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Website - https://health.ri.gov/chronic-conditions/healthy-eating-and-active-living-heal

Review HEAL's Strategic Plan - https://health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/publications/strategicplans/2023-2028HealthyEatingAndActiveLiving.pdf

Read the article “Walking to Improve Mental Health” - https://tinyurl.com/Walking4MentalHealth

Gamify the activity of walking. Read this blog for a few ideas... https://netwalkri.com/walking-journal/f/ecopirate-on-the-cove

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