International Walk Our Children to School Day

Volume 3, Number 5 - August 2000

Wednesday, October 4, 2000, marks the fourth annual Walk Our Children to School Day and the first time the event is being held at the international level. In 1999, more than 300,000 children, parents, government officials, health and safety advocates, and community leaders in 170 cities from 34 states participated in Walk Our Children to School Day events. Communities use this event to address multiple issues, including teaching pedestrian safety skills to children, identifying safe pedestrian routes to schools, and promoting walking as a safe and healthy activity that is also good for the environment.

A number of communities have used Walk Our Children to School Day to advocate for changes that will make their communities safer places to walk. The city government in Hyrum, Utah, is using walkability checklists from the 1999 event to help determine how a $100,000 grant for pedestrian safety facility improvements can best be used. Columbus, Ohio, has leveraged the enthusiasm and concern generated by its annual event by establishing a pedestrian coordinator's position in its traffic engineering department.

International Walk Our Children to School Day is sponsored by a coalition coordinated by the Partnership for a Walkable America, which can provide communities with resources and advice on how to participate in this event, including walkability checklists, press releases, suggested activities, and brochures. Also available is Walking with a Mission, a report on 1999 activities.

For more information, see the International Walk Our Children to School Day website at www.walktoschool-usa.org or contact Harold Thompson at 1(800) 621-7615, ext. 2383, or Sarah Latta at (919) 962-7419.

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