Kids and parents around the world are changing their morning routines, walking or biking to school on International Walk+Bike to School Day held Wednesday, October 9. The global event, promoted in the Metro region by Oregon Safe Routes to School, encourages children, parents, teachers and community members to improve their health and their communities by getting to school on foot or by bike.
Thousands of children from more than 200 schools in Oregon will walk and bike to school that day, and many in the Metro region will be greeted at school by volunteers handing out prizes from Safe Routes to School and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
In Portland, International "Walk + Bike to School Day" will be celebrated with an event at Maplewood Elementary School in Southwest Portland at 7:40 a.m. More than 150 children are expected to meet up and walk or bike to school with City Commissioner Steve Novick, Transportation Director Leah Treat and other leaders as well as Portland Timbers' Timber Joey.
According to Oregon Safes Routes to School, in 1969 over 50% of students walked or biked to school; today, less than 15% do. The steady decline in the number of children walking and biking to school, even among children living a mile or less from school, is attributed to many factors including safety concerns, the increasing distance many children travel to school, and the lack of infrastructure that is inviting for families to walk and bike.
Besides being a great opportunity for families to spend time and be active together, International Walk+Bike to School Day events aim to raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling, increasing physical activity among children, traffic congestion and concern for the environment.
Visit www.walknbike.org to learn more about Oregon Safe Routes to School, and to find a listing of schools registered to host events for International Walk+Bike to School Day.