International Walk to School Week
Walk This Way is a pedestrian safety program that takes place during International Walk to School Week in early October. NYC DOT's Safety Education Program and Safe Kids host walk to school events in every borough throughout the week. Through these events we educate parents and students about pedestrian safety and share tips to be used on any walking trip. Walk to School Week also promotes walking as a healthy exercise and a way to reduce vehicle trips, congestion and pollution. Safety Education has conducted Walk This Way/Walk to School events every October since 1999.
In Manhattan and Brooklyn, DOT Safety Education staff, along with FedEx volunteers and NYC Safe Kids Coalition members, walk with the students from their home school to Brooklyn and Access Safety City. As they walk together, the children and adults will fill out a Neighborhood Safety Survey, which helps the children learn about traffic conditions in their community.
At DOT's Safety City, the children participate in a traffic safety program, both in the classroom and on the Safety City protected, yet realistic streetscape. They have an opportunity to get in the driver's seat of a FedEx truck, and see the street from the driver's point of view. Each child receives a special packet of safety information to bring home and share with family and friends.
International Walk to School Week presents an excellent opportunity for children, parents, teachers, and community leaders to be part of a global event celebrating the benefits of walking. Register to be a 2007 International Walk to School Day organizer or participant on the National Walk to School Day Web site.
Walking to School All Year Round
Nationwide, only 13% of children walk or bike to school, compared to over two-thirds 30 years ago. While New York City has much higher numbers - 9 out of 10 Bronx children walk to school - walking is still on the decline. At the same time, television and video games have replaced more active forms of recreation for many young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the percentages of overweight children aged 6 to 11 years have more than doubled over the past 30 years. Walking to school can help young people get the healthy exercise they need as part of their daily routine and set up a healthy habit for life.
For parents and guardians concerned about allowing their children to walk alone to school, one solution is to work with the school and other parents to organize a walking school bus in the neighborhood. A walking school bus consists of one or more adult supervisors (a parent or other guardian) and a group of children. A walking route is organized to operate much as a school bus would. The walking 'school bus” group arrives at designated locations at a scheduled time to allow additional students to join the group for a safety in numbers trip to school. Read more about walking school buses.
Other Walk to School Resources
NYCDOT's Safe Routes to Schools Program
International Walk to School Day
Centers for Disease Control, Kids Walk to School
Lets Walk to School, Britain
New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center
Federal Highway Administration's Safe Routes to School Program
National Center for Safe Routes to School
National Safe Routes to School Partnership
