Red Bank Schools Awarded For Promoting Safe Walking & Biking for Students

RED BANK, NJ — Two Red Bank schools have been recognized for their work in promoting safe walking and biking for students, the Red Bank Public School District announced on Monday.

Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School were both honored for their work with Gold Awards by EZ Ride for their work, which were presented at EZ Ride’s 2025 Annual Recognition Event on Sept. 25.

Alongside the schools, Red Bank Borough was also recognized with a Gold Award, celebrating the community’s leadership in this initiative.

According to district officials, the awards given to the schools recognize their implementation of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, a statewide initiative that aligns with national efforts to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety for school children, as well as exemplifies the district’s commitment to its motto: “Dream BIG…We’ll Help You Get There.”

"This Gold Award is a testament to our district's core values," said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jared Rumage. "Safety is our first priority, and the Safe Routes to School program has been instrumental in ensuring our students' journeys to and from school are secure.”

“This initiative directly supports our commitment to daily learning, as a safe journey ensures students arrive ready to learn,” Rumage continued. “And the activities we implemented to achieve this distinction align directly with our Strategic Plan, Dream Bigger: A 5-Year Roadmap, and our unwavering commitment to our students' well-being and academic success."

For 2025, the SRTS program recognized 147 New Jersey schools, which hosted over 800 safety events and reached over 44,000 participants across five counties.

SRTS activities in Red Bank and other communities ranged from safety presentations and community audits to bike skill classes, poster contests, and walk/bike-to-school days.

According to district officials, making these activities a regular part of the school year helps create a culture of safety, and SRTS programming helps the borough’s youngest learners stay safe, active and environmentally mindful as they learn the joys of walking and biking.

“One of our favorite new traditions at RBPS is when our Safety Patrol students celebrate the legacy of Ruby Bridges during Walk to School Day, forming a cheer line to greet all students who walk or bike to school,” said Red Bank Primary School Vice Principal Christina Vlahos. “Even our school mascot, Stormy, joins the fun, handing out ‘I walked to school’ stickers that students proudly wear all day.”

At Red Bank Middle School, Vice Principal Michael Dougherty said the impact of the Safe Routes to School program is also easy to spot, particularly when it comes to biking.

"The enthusiasm our students have shown for biking has been incredible, and it's so great to see them choosing an active way to get to school,” Dougherty said. “In fact, so many students are now riding their bikes that we've already had to order more bike racks. We couldn't be prouder of our students and the positive impact this program is having."

Alongside the SRTS efforts, officials said the district recently completed major renovations to the exterior grounds of both schools.

The projects not only aim to beautify the campuses but also contribute to a significant redesign of arrival and dismissal procedures, further enhancing student safety and security.

The upgraded grounds and traffic flow improvements work in tandem with the Safe Routes to School program to create a comprehensive and secure environment for all students, district officials said.

As top-tier SRTS awardees, Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School will also gain valuable benefits, including working towards achieving Sustainable Jersey certification, qualifying for mini-grants, and strengthening their position for future infrastructure grants through the NJ Department of Transportation.

To view all the awardees, including Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School, you can view EZ Ride’s 2025 Safe Routes to School Awardees video.