NEWS

This was the scene at a previous Davidson Walk and Bike to School Day.

Grand Opening of the Davidson Traffic Garden

DAVIDSON, NC - On October 8, 2025, students, families, and community members will join peers from around the world to celebrate International Walk and Bike to School Day. This annual event, organized in partnership with the North Carolina Safe Routes to School Program, highlights the importance of pedestrian safety, environmental conservation, physical activity, and the Town of Davidson’s commitment to promoting a walking and bicycle-friendly community.

This year the community is also invited to join a special after-school celebration with the grand opening of a new community traffic garden. The event will take place at Davidson Elementary School (635 South St.) at 4:15 p.m. A Traffic Garden is a small-scale streetscape designed for educational programming, skill-building, and active fun. The event will allow children to ride, walk, or scoot on the safety course that includes a scaled-down traffic circle, three-way stop, railroad crossing, and crosswalks. This innovative facility will be open for community use when school is not in session, details to follow. The project was made possible from proceeds provided by the Davidson Turkey Trot and Students Offering Smiles, with support from Mecklenburg County Health Department.

Drivers are encouraged to exercise caution, as students will be walking, biking, and rolling to school alongside parents and caregivers using sidewalks, low-traffic streets, and greenways. The Davidson Police Department, Town Parks and Recreation staff, and community volunteers will be stationed at key locations throughout the Town of Davidson to ensure the safety of participants. Additionally, some schools will host pedestrian-themed activities during the school day.

All children must wear a helmet, and activities will follow current safety guidelines. Electric dirt bikes, motorcycles, mopeds, and electric assist bicycles may not be operated by anyone under the age of 16. For more information about North Carolina safety laws or Davidson guidelines visit the Town’s webpage.

“The Town of Davidson has celebrated walk and bike to school day events for close to 20 years and we are proud to continue this tradition,” said Mayor Rusty Knox. “The grand opening of the traffic garden is a special event and aligns with the Town’s Vision Zero Plan, which strives to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. We want to encourage fun and safe travel on October 8 and throughout the rest of the year.”

Click here for additional information, or to sign up for volunteer opportunities. For questions about Davidson’s “International Walk and Bike to School Day” or the traffic garden please contact the Davidson Parks and Recreation Department via email at DPR@townofdavidson.org or by calling 704-892-3349.