David Hopper, a leader with the Commute Options walking school bus program, watches as a group of students navigates safely through an intersection while riding home together from Jewell Elementary School in Bend on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019. Hopper said the group rides bikes together every Wednesday, but this week, the ride coincided with the International Walk and Roll to School Day that several Bend area schools took part in to help encourage healthy habits. (Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin photo)

In Central Oregon and around the world, schoolchildren walked or biked to school Wednesday.

They took part in International Walk and Roll to School Day. The event, which began in 1997, involves communities from more than 40 countries, according to The Street Trust, a Portland nonprofit that promotes public transit, walking and bicycling. While the event encourages children to be active and healthy, it also brings communities together, according to the website Walk & Bike To School.

And it’s fun.

In Central Oregon, 17 schools in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties registered to take part in Wednesday’s event, according to Walk & Bike to School.

Last year 287 Oregon schools participated in Walk and Roll to School Day, according to the website of Commute Options, the Bend-based organization that promotes bicycling, walking, carpooling, teleworking and public transportation.