On October 2, 2019, hundreds of kids from dozens of schools all across the Tampa Bay region participated in International Walk to School Day, along with family members, school personnel, and local advocates.

One of the schools participating was Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School. City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joined in the walk. The school is one of seven in the region with a “Sidewalk Stompers” group, which not only organizes weekly walking and bicycling to school days but advocates for infrastructure improvements.
“We were so thrilled to have Mayor Castor join us at one of our Sidewalk Stompers partner schools, Tampa Bay Blvd. Elementary, to celebrate International Walk/Bike to School Day with our student walkers and bikers. Her presence helped reinforce the importance of including a healthy walk and bike to school in transportation planning and signaled her commitment to building safer routes to school for all Tampa students. Also, the kids were so excited to meet the Mayor and her walking companion, Desa the dog!” said Emily Hinsdale, president and co-founder of Sidewalk Stompers, Inc.

International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate.