Riverside County Families, Schools Take Part in 2025 International Walk to School Day

Riverside County Families, Schools Take Part in 2025 International Walk to School Day

RIVERSIDE, CA -- (Oct. 8, 2025) There were plenty of smiles as Riverside County students, staff and families laced up their sneakers to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 8, an initiative that promotes safety, well-being and healthy lifestyles.

Observed annually on the first Wednesday of October, the event encourages families across the world to embrace the health benefits of walking and biking safely to school with their classmates, neighbors and families with the goal of adopting new and healthy habits throughout the year.

“International Walk to School Day is a great opportunity to walk and talk and give our kids a great send-off for the day. Thank you to all the Riverside County schools, students and families who made this event happen,” said First District Supervisor Jose Medina.

A total of 46 Riverside County elementary, middle and high schools and about 16,000 participants took part in the walk on Wednesday. VIP attendees included First District Supervisor Jose Medina, and Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, and Riverside Police Department representatives accompanied by their mascot, McGruff, who were supported by law enforcement agencies countywide.

Some students and parents throughout Riverside County formed “walking school buses” in which groups of children, parents and volunteers, walked to school together. 

“Every year we enjoy seeing our Riverside County students walking to school as part of this important day. Of course, we hope that this will become a fun activity that can happen every day, along with making best choices for healthy bodies and minds," said Kim Saruwatari, Director for Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS-PH), which coordinates the program locally. 

RUHS—Public Health's Safe Routes for All program has been leading the Walk to School Day initiative in Riverside County for more than 15 years, Saruwatari noted.

RUHS — PH offers the following pedestrian safety tips for students and families whenever walking or biking outdoors:

• Always cross streets at designated crosswalks or corners.
• Look left, right, then left again before crossing.
• Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street to ensure they see you.
• Avoid distractions like phones or headphones while walking.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever available. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Obey traffic signals and pedestrian signs.

International Walk to School Day is coordinated by the Safe Routes for All program at RUHS-PH and is supported by a combination of public agencies, police departments, city governments and community organizations.

Schools are encouraged to participate and host a Walk to School Day event on their campus on any day in October. To get started, contact the Safe Routes for All program by emailing SafeRoutesForAll@ruhealth.org. 

For more information on the Safe Routes to School program, visit Injury Prevention Services | Riverside University Health System (ruhealth.org).

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