Walk to School Day on Oct. 5 — the national event to promote safety and connected communities — had a little extra spring in its step this year. A new pilot program called Bellevue SchoolPool is being launched at eight schools.

SchoolPool is a free, secure, online tool that matches families who want to form carpools, walking or biking groups to get children to and from school. Like Walk to School Day, SchoolPool can help reduce traffic congestion, enhance health and safety, improve the environment and bring the community together.

A partnership between the Bellevue School District, city of Bellevue, King County and TransManage, SchoolPool is open to families with children at eight schools: Puesta del Sol, Somerset and Stevenson elementary schools; Odle and Tyee middle schools; Newport and Sammamish high schools; and Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Mark Oppfelt, a parent volunteer at Clyde Hill Elementary, said “Walk to School Day is a fantastic way to remind parents that our kids benefit greatly from physical activity and walking to school is a great way to start and end the day.”

To register, visit www.chooseyourwaybellevue.org/school-programs.