Date:  Monday, October 06, 2008

Contact: Charlotte Claybrooke, Safe Routes to School Coordinator, (360) 705-7302

Paula Reeves, Branch Manager, Community Design Assistance, (360) 705-7258 

With a focus on children’s safety, 34 schools from across the state will participate in International Walk to School Day this week. Schools in Auburn, Bellingham, East Wenatchee, Ephrata, Ferndale, Fircrest, Lynnwood, Mercer Island, Moses Lake, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Sammamish, Seattle, Suquamish, Tacoma and Vancouver will be joining others from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8.

Walk to School events work to 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. Over one-half of the events are part of ongoing activities to promote walking and bicycling throughout the year. Many are part of Safe Routes to School projects funded by grants through the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Walk to School Day events typically begin in the neighborhoods where children live and include groups of students, parents, teachers, and community leaders walking to school together. Approximately 10,000 students will be walking to school this month.

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.

Additional information on walk programs can be found on these Web sites:

International Walk to School in the USA www.walktoschool.org
National Center for Safe Routes to School www.saferoutesinfo.org
International Walk to School www.iwalktoschool.org
WSDOT Safe Routes to School Resource http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/SafeRoutesResources.htm

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