In honor of May being National Bike Month, a biking safety initiative geared at protecting students will be unveiled at Roosevelt Elementary School, 3205 S Ferdinand Ave, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 3 p.m.
The non-profit organization Sidewalk Stompers, the City of Tampa Mobility Department, and representatives from Roosevelt Elementary will debut the many street improvements designed to create a safer biking and walking environment for students, including a street mural, painted bike lanes, and planters. The new roadway design creates distance between bicyclists and vehicles and draws attention to areas of the road with heavy foot traffic before and after school.
The Roosevelt Elementary community raised more than $33,000 to fund this unique project designed by Sidewalk Stompers’ board member Matti Rukholm and implemented by the City of Tampa Mobility Department. Artists Jay Giroux and Anthony Freese of Greater Public Studio created the mural art. Cub Scout Pack 25 installed the street planters.
“National Bike to School Day recognizes the importance of giving children safe and healthy routes to school. That’s what this mural project is all about – a community investing in a safer, friendlier school street for their children,” said Emily Hinsdale, President of Sidewalk Stompers. “We are delighted to celebrate this unique project, hopefully, the first of many such partnership safety efforts at Tampa schools.”
Sidewalks Stompers, an award-winning walk-to-school advocacy nonprofit, launched “Walk to School Wednesday” at Roosevelt Elementary in 2016. Over 340 students join Sidewalk Stompers’ Roosevelt Elementary weekly “Walk to School Wednesday” program. The program is designed to increase student health, mental wellness, community connections, and road safety. Sidewalk Stompers currently offers programs at 13 Hillsborough County public schools. Our vision is a new generation engaged in active transportation, growing up healthier and better invested in their community.
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