International Walk to School Day!

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 6!

International Walk to School Day and Month began as an idea

In 1997, the Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago, modeled after the United Kingdom’s lead. Back then, it was simply a day to bring community leaders and children together to create awareness of the need for communities to be walkable.

It evolved into a movement

By the year 2002, children, parents, teachers and community leaders in all 50 states joined nearly 3 million walkers around the world to celebrate the second annual International Walk to School Day. The reasons for walking grew just as quickly as the event itself.

Whether your concern is safer and improved streets, healthier habits, or cleaner air, Walk to School Day events are aimed at bringing forth permanent change to encourage a more walkable America — one community at a time.

Now it’s a priority

In 2005, new legislation recognized the value of Safe Routes to School programs and is providing funding for States to establish programs. Politicians and other government officials are paying attention to the importance of safe walking and biking to school. Obesity, concern for the environment and the effects of urban sprawl on communities has led to the joining of efforts among those that care about these and other related issues like school siting and traffic congestion.

Communities are using the walk or bike to school as the first step to change community culture and create environments that are more inviting for everyone, young and old. Here are some reasons to support walking and biking to school:

To enhance the health of kids Increased physical activity can combat a host of health problems facing kids today.

To improve air quality and the environment Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can help reduce air pollution.

To create safer routes for walking and bicycling Sidewalks, education programs and traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve conditions.

This type of event would clearly fit into our goals with the PHC childhood obesity grant - I know October 6th is only 2 weeks away but does anyone want to spearhead this? Maybe it could be as simple as dropping the kids at the end of the school driveway and having them walk up to the school on that day for this year? There are 10 communities in CT participating already - can we be number 11?

E-mail Karen or me and let us know if you're interested in taking the Walk to School challenge on!

For more info or program ideas: http://www.walktoschool.org/index.cfm