BATON ROUGE, La. - All Louisiana Kindergarten-8th grade schools are invited to participate in International Walk to School Day on October 9, 2013. Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need 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 and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools and the broader community. Register your event at www.walkbiketoschool.org.
Walk to School Day began as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike. Schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.
Organizations supporting International Walk to School Day in the United States include America Walks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
For additional information, please visit these websites: Walk to School Day in the USA, www.walkbiketoschool.org; National Center for Safe Routes to School, www.saferoutesinfo.org; and International Walk to School Day, www.iwalktoschool.org.