"Walk to School Day" Set for Oct. 5
International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5th. The purpose of the International Walk to School Day is to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and the benefits to the environment from reduced car trips.
Participation in the International Walk to School Day helps to educate students on their school’s safe routes created by the City of Evanston and School District 65 personnel. This initiative, promoted by the District 65 School Board AdHoc Green / Sustainability Committee as a strategy that can help to improve our environment, is endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama, and compliments her Let’s Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity and promote physical activity.
Streets adjacent to Schools experience congestion and circulation problems due to the increase in traffic during the drop-off and pick-up hours. It is estimated that up to 25% more traffic is added to the street system during these time periods. One of the ways to reduce the congestion and circulation issues is to encourage students to walk to school, which is also good for their health. The city provides school crossing guards at 44 locations to help school children cross streets in a safe manner. Additionally, the city has also implemented mitigation measures such as de-facto one –way streets during drop-off and pick-up hours, installed regulatory signs and designated loading areas.
Last year, school walk routes were reviewed and a School Travel Plan was developed by the city in coordination with School District 65, school administration and PTA members. The plan has been approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation and subsequently a funding application to improve intersection crossings and sidewalks conditions has been submitted. The city's goal is to encourage more students to walk to school in a safe manner. As some schools are already doing, the city encourage parents to get together and take turns to lead the neighborhood students in a “walking-school bus” or a “bike-train” to and from school on the International Walk to School Day and then consider implementing it other times of the school year also.
Please remind your child that children all over the world have chosen to participate in the International Walk to School Day on October 5th. As the global community continues to get smaller, a gesture like walking to school when done by thousands of children across the world can have a universal impact.
As of today’s date, children from 42 countries are participating. In the United States, children from 2,233 schools will also be walking. Many of our schools are participating through a coordinated effort with their PTA’s. For more information, visit the International Walk to School Day at www.walktoschool.org. There, children can find downloadable stickers and badges, as well as ideas to make the walk successful and fun for all.