Bike Bus returns to High Springs on September 16
Press release from the High Springs Fire Department and Safe Kids North Central Florida
HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – Safe Kids North Central Florida (SKNCFL) is inviting students from High Springs Community School to celebrate National Walk & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. This community-wide event will bring together students, families, educators, and local safety partners to promote bicycle safety and encourage active transportation to school.
Observed in hundreds of communities nationwide, this annual community event emphasizes fun, safe, and active travel to school. It can also lead to lasting safety changes in neighborhoods that prioritize safe, separated spaces for walking and biking.
This year’s celebration will feature the return of High Springs’ “Bike Bus,” a fun and structured group ride to school. A Bike Bus is a supervised group of students and families who travel together along a planned route, led by adult volunteers and supported by local safety partners, including the High Springs Fire Department and Police Department.
Participants can join one of two routes:
The Downtown Route will begin at the Old School Community Center, continue to the Civic Center, and travel along Main Street to the school.
The Bailey Route will start at the entrance to Bailey Estates on NW 190th Avenue, making several neighborhood stops before joining the Downtown group at the school.
Both routes will converge at High Springs Community School, where students will be welcomed by community partners and special guests. The Bike Bus promotes physical activity, builds community connections, and provides a safe, engaging way for children to practice important bike safety skills.
“We are so excited to bring the Bike Bus back to High Springs and give families another opportunity to experience firsthand how fun, healthy, and safe walking and biking to school can be. Events like this bring our community together while helping children build confidence, learn important pedestrian and bicycle safety skills, and see that active transportation can be a part of their everyday lives,” said Jordyn Zyngier, Safe Kids North Central Florida Coordinator. “We also want to remind families that a helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injuries in a crash. Bicycle-related injuries remain a leading cause of trauma among patients at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, yet many children in Alachua County still ride without helmets.”
For this event, all students participating in the Bike Bus will be required to wear a helmet, and caregivers in need of one are encouraged to contact the High Springs Fire Department for assistance.
“The bike bus is a microcosm of life in High Springs,” said Kevin Mangan, Public Information Officer for the High Springs Fire Department. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors, coming together to support one another, cheer each other on, and have fun as a community in a safe and healthy environment.”
Families are encouraged to review route maps, stop locations, and frequently asked questions in advance. For more information about the High Springs Bike Bus, visit https://www.highsprings.gov/