International
Walk to School Day
October 5, 2011
Each
year, the Mid-America Regional Council encourages local schools to celebrate International
Walk to School Day, which this year falls on October 5, 2011. Last year, thousands of students, educators, families and neighbors throughout Greater Kansas City left their cars at home, skipped the school buses and instead walked to school.
During the week of Oct. 3-7, area schools will join with others around the world to promote the benefits of walking or biking to school, which include healthy lifestyles, strong communities, financial savings and a cleaner environment. Many schools will hold special events throughout the week to celebrate IWALK, encouraging families to make walking together a regular habit. Community leaders will also help mark the occasion by showing their commitment to creating safe routes to school through infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and crosswalks. Regional advocacy organizations will share information to educate motorists, walkers and bicyclists about good safety habits.
"Getting children to walk to school is about much more than just getting them from home to the classroom," says Aaron Bartlett, MARC Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner. "Daily activities such as walking or biking can put kids on a path towards lifelong healthy habits, which can help prevent childhood obesity. And when parents walk with their kids instead of driving them to school, fewer cars are on our roads, leading to cleaner air and less traffic congestion.
"In addition to the encouragement that schools can provide through walking school bus programs or youth cycling clubs, programs such as Safe Routes to School provide guidance and resources for communities to create safer neighborhoods for walking and biking through street improvements and enhanced law enforcement. International Walk to School Day is a great way to get everyone involved and bring attention to these important issues."
Now in its 15th year, IWALK events continue to grow, as many cities and countries recognize the need for programs that educate children, parents and educators about safely traveling to school in ways that will benefit their health and the environment. Communities can use IWALK events as a first step in creating safe, inviting environments for young and old alike. Some of the reasons to support walking or biking to school include:
Enhancing children’s health. Increased physical activity helps combat health problems today’s kids can face.- Improving air quality and the environment. Replacing car trips to school with walking or biking can help reduce air pollution.
- Creating safer routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. Physical improvements to streets and sidewalks and increasing education about traffic safety can encourage alternative transportation and benefit the entire community.
2011 IWALK events in the Kansas City region:
- Frank Rushton Elementary, 2605 West 43rd Avenue, Kansas City, Kan. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 8:00 a.m.
Walk will begin at the Rosedale Mural at 42nd and Mission Road
Contact: Joshua Hoffman, Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative, 913/645-7826
Join students, parents, teachers, local law enforcement, elected officials and community members for a celebration of active living and safe neighborhoods. The Rosedale Walk to School event will feature breakfast snacks, music, noisemakers, and a puppet performance. Meet at the Rosedale Mural at 8:00 a.m. before walking to school together. - Dobbs Elementary, 9400 Eastern, Kansas City, Mo.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8:45–9:15 a.m.
Contact: Ashley Winchell, Active Living KC, 816/457-7631
Dobbs Elementary recently formed a Walking School Bus with the support of teachers and school administrators. As students arrive at school that morning, the Ruskin High School Band and Drum Line will greet them with a live performance. Students, families and school administration will be joined by Active Living KC staff and students from the UMKC School of Education.
For a list of other area schools participating in International Walk to School Day, visit www.walktoschool.org and click on the "Who's Walking" tab.
With increased youth walking and biking activity this week, motorists should take extra caution when driving around school zones or in neighborhoods where children are traveling to school. Remember:
- Keep your eyes on the road – don’t text and drive
- Obey posted speed limits
- Yield to children crossing the street
- Share the road with bicyclists