Walk, Bike And Roll To School Day 2026: Murrieta Valley Schools Taking Part

MURRIETA, CA — Expect to see more backpacks, bicycles and scooters along Riverside County streets Wednesday morning as students across the region take part in National Walk & Roll to School Day.

The annual event, held this year on Oct. 7, encourages students and families to walk, bike, or roll to campus while highlighting pedestrian safety, healthy habits, and the need for safe routes to school. Thousands of schools nationwide participate each year.

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Schools across Riverside County are joining in.

Murrieta Valley Unified School District schools are participating this year, including the Rail Ranch Elementary School, sponsored by the PTA.

In Temecula Valley Unified School District, Temecula Elementary School has scheduled Walk to School Day from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. Rancho Elementary also lists National Walk to School Day on its calendar. Crowne Hill Elementary and Nicolas Valley students are also walking on Wednesday.

The Lake Elsinore Unified School District, which serves Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, is also promoting Walk to School Day 2026. Rice Canyon Elementary and Herk Bouris Elementary School in Lake Elsinore are among the district campuses publicizing the event.

In Banning Unified School District, Hoffer Elementary and Hemmerling Elementary have National Walk to School Day events scheduled for Wednesday morning. Hemmerling's event is listed from 8 to 9 a.m., while Hoffer's is scheduled from 8 to 8:15 a.m.

In Beaumont Unified School District, Sundance Elementary School will hold its Walk to School Day event from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The Menifee Union School District is sponsoring Walk to School events at Chester W. Morrison Elementary and Southshore Elementary.

Palm Springs Unified School District families are invited to "Walk Your Superhero to School" from 7 a.m. – 8 a.m., beginning at Demuth Park and walking together to Cielo Vista Charter School. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero or wear a "super shirt."

See the full list of California schools participating here:

Individual schools and families may still participate, and organizers note that schools can hold their events on another day during October if Oct. 7 does not work for their calendars.

The increased number of children walking and riding to class prompted law enforcement agencies to remind motorists to pay particular attention near schools, crosswalks, sidewalks and bike lanes.

In Riverside, police encouraged schools, families and students to join the event and use it to reinforce safe travel habits throughout the school year.

"This annual event is a reminder that students biking and walking to school safely is a shared commitment," Riverside Police Sgt. Dan Macias said. "It also reinforces the need for drivers to slow down, stay alert and look out for children using crosswalks, sidewalks and bike lanes to get to school. Every safe choice helps protect students who rely on these routes every day."

Drivers should be prepared to stop for children in crosswalks and for school buses and should reduce their speed in school zones, police said.

Students walking, biking or rolling to school were reminded to:

• Plan routes using sidewalks or paths away from heavy traffic whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and as far to the left as possible.
• Ride bicycles on the right side of the roadway, traveling in the same direction as vehicle traffic.
• Wear a properly fitted helmet when biking or using other wheeled transportation.
• Use crosswalks at stop signs or traffic signals and cross at street corners when marked crosswalks are unavailable.
• Look left, right and left again before entering the roadway.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and never assume a motorist sees you.
• Wear bright clothing during daylight hours and reflective materials when it is dark.
• Stay alert and avoid phones, headphones or other electronic devices that take eyes or ears away from traffic.

National Walk & Roll to School Day began as a one-day event in 1997 and has grown into an annual October observance involving thousands of schools across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Organizers say the event is intended not only to encourage physical activity but also to focus attention on safer pedestrian and bicycle routes around schools.

Schools can still register their events through www.WalkBikeToSchool.org, and communities may celebrate on another day in October if Wednesday's date does not fit their schedule.