Congratulations to the Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll program for being named the 2023 Bicycle Program of the Year! Led by local parents and dedicated bicycle advocates, Rachel Sussman and Soren Spies, this initiative was recognized at the Silicon Valley Bike Summit for its transformative impact on the ability of students in a San Jose neighborhood to safely walk and bike to school.

The journey of the Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll Program began with an encounter at a local farmer's market. Rachel and Soren, both parents of students at Trace Elementary School, crossed paths two years ago in a self-designated cargo-bike parking area. There they found similar concerns about the challenges of biking to school safely with their children. This shared vision paved the way for the program's inception.

The Walk n' Roll Program emerged with a primary focus on creating a safe and enjoyable biking and walking experience for children and families in the community. Motivated by a shared desire to provide children with safer routes to school, Rachel and Soren embarked on a mission to make biking to school the safest, most convenient, and most fun option available to students.

The heart of the program lies in its commitment to fun experiences and spaces, and its ability to make an impact has been clear since the program's early events, including a bike safety rodeo in 2021. Despite having anticipated 20 - 50 participants, the rodeo was attended by a staggering 100+ youth riders. This success underscored the power of offering opportunities for students to bike safely and have fun while riding,

Soren describes the core of this program as a way to “give permission for people to walk or bike." Rachel adds that the program offers a resounding "YES" to those who want to embrace biking and walking as their mode of traveling to and from school. This affirming approach has played a crucial role in empowering riders to overcome perceived barriers and actively participate in the rides.

The program's evolution has been marked by a series of strategic steps. From the early stages of creating flyers and conducting surveys, to hosting biking skills events and organizing community rides, the group has orchestrated a harmonious blend of education, engagement, and fun. They found creative ways to enhance road safety by making crosswalks more visible, and introduced the concept of bike trains to bring visibility, safety, and joy to the bike ride to school.

Through the group’s efforts, the Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll Program has struck a delicate balance between infrastructure enhancements and interactive, engaging activities. The community has witnessed the program's impact, not just in terms of safer travel to and from school, but also in the sense of camaraderie and collaboration it has built between students and parents who walk, bike, and drive with a desire to avoid heavy traffic.

See additional Bike Summit award winners:
2023 Professional of the Year — Kyle Wong
2023 Project of the Year — Midcoast Multimodal Trail

To those who wonder how they might go about developing a Walk n’ Roll program of their own, Rachel says to “Begin with something fun that resonates with your community. Building goodwill and actively listening to the community's concerns are essential first steps." The program's success hinges on a formula that includes celebrating achievements, educating the community, addressing concerns, making incremental changes, and eventually transitioning from small adjustments like using traffic cones to significant initiatives like creating dedicated bike lanes.

Additionally, identifying allies within city resources, schools, and parent-teacher organizations can provide invaluable support. The involvement of school leadership, like Trace Elementary's Principal Karina Alvarez, has been instrumental in nurturing a culture of community engagement and safety.

As the Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll Program continues to flourish, Rachel, Soren, and team remain steadfast in their commitment to fostering a safer, more enjoyable biking and walking experience for their community. In the end, the award-winning Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll Program stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration, people-first perspectives, and the simple joy of riding a bike or walking to school. Through their dedication and passion, Trace Walk n’ Roll have unlocked the potential to transform the way we view and engage with active transportation to and from school, making Trace Elementary a model for safer, more sustainable youth commuting options.