Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week Student Art Contest

April 13, 2026 10:42 AM
by Edgar Mejia

Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week is May 4–8! This week encourages students and families in Santa Monica to try active transportation – walking, biking, rolling, or using transit options to get to places like school, the library, and parks instead of traveling only by car. 

Celebrate Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week by showing how you get around Santa Monica and inspiring others to walk, bike, and ride Big Blue Bus! The city of Santa Monica’s Department of Public Works and Big Blue Bus invite students to participate in a student art contest by submitting an original artwork that highlights getting to school and around the city without a car. 

Winning artwork may be featured by the city of Santa Monica and Big Blue Bus on social media, printed materials, or transit promotions. Selected artwork may also be displayed on Big Blue Bus interior digital screens. 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE 

• Open to K–12 students attending any school in Santa Monica or the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. 
• Students may submit one original artwork. 
• Entries must be created individually (no group submissions). 

ARTWORK PROMPTS 

Choose from one of the following prompts: 

1. Draw your favorite way to get to school by rolling, walking, biking, or riding Big Blue Bus. 
2. Design a poster that inspires other students to walk, bike, or ride Big Blue Bus to school. 

ARTWORK GUIDELINES

• Artwork must be original and created by the student. 
• Artwork should relate to multimodal travel such as walking, biking, rolling or riding the bus. 
• All art styles are welcome, including drawing, painting, digital art, collage, or mixed media. 
• Recommended size: 8.5 x 11 inches (portrait or landscape). 
• Max digital size: 20MB. 
• Artwork should be family-friendly and school-appropriate. 

HOW TO SUBMIT 

Email a PDF of the artwork to edgar.mejia@santamonica.gov and include the following information: 

• Student name 
• School name 
• Grade level 
• Title of artwork 
• Parent/guardian email 

All entries must be received by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 8.   

ADDITIONAL RULES 

• Artwork must be student-created and not copied from existing images or created with assistance from any artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT. 
• By submitting artwork, students grant permission for the city of Santa Monica and Big Blue Bus to reproduce the artwork for educational and promotional purposes. 
• Winners may be asked to provide the original artwork or digital file. 
• Incomplete submissions may not be considered. 

JUDGING CRITERIA 

• Creativity and originality 
• Connection to Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week 
• Clear message promoting safe and sustainable transportation 
• Artistic expression and effort 

PRIZES
There will be one winner selected from the following categories: 

• Elementary School Winner 
• Middle School Winner 
• High School Winner 

Possible prizes include: 

• Big Blue Bus swag 
• Gift card to an art supply store 
• Artwork featured on Big Blue Bus social media materials and/or Big Blue Bus interior digital screens.

Authored By

Edgar Mejia
Transportation Planning Assistant

Categories

Arts, Culture & Fun, Community Events, Getting Around, Programs, Sustainable and Connected