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Walk this way to safer routes to school

Walking or biking to school are two simple acts that can have a profound positive impact for our children, our communities, and our planet.

That's why, as elementary and middle school students head back to class across Rhode Island, the Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC) is ramping up its efforts to get the word out about International Walk To School Day on October 6.

You can find out more by calling Eugenia Marks at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at 949-5454 ext 3003, or e-mailing her at emarks@asri.org. Or you can register for the event online through the Safe Routes To School website.

Walk To School Day events help create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

Educators, school officials, parents and other concerned adults can organize a Walk To School Day event for their  entire school or for just one classroom. CTC member groups have contacted schools across the state to help create different event for Walk To School Day such as a "walking school bus," "walk with elders," or a "with-it walkers."

CTC will provide posters, banners, and recognize the special efforts of participating schools with Golden Sneaker Awards. We'll also seek to spotlight the work of seven municipalities -- Barrington, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Jamestown, Providence, and Woonsocket -- that received funding for Safe Routes to School from the Federal Highway Administration. The schools worked with the Department of Administration on education and Department of Transportation on programs and projects to make walking to school safer for students.

Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create International Walk to School Day.

In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.