Walk To School Day offers glimpse of tomorrow's livable communities

Today is Walk to School Day, and school kids everywhere will be out in force. I, for one, am glad to see it.

Now, lots of kids all over the world walk to school every day; what makes today's trip to school such a special event?

1. Today's big walk calls attention to safety issues that are so important. These kids need safe streets--roads in passable condition and drivers who are attentive to the kids' presence.
2. The large turnout of kids walking instead of being driven by their parents means that the Walk to School takes cars off the street. From this, kids learn about responsible environmental stewardship.
3. These kids are engaging in healthy physical activity.

Today's events are part of the Safe Routes to School program, funded by DOT's Federal Highway Administration. We need walking and bicycling to be safe transportation options for our kids. This means creating safe environments:

• sidewalks or bicycle-paths that connect homes with schools
• child-friendly opportunities to cross streets; and
• slow vehicle speeds through roadway safety measures and law enforcement.

Of course, there is one thing we can all do easily: reduce our driving speeds. In communities with kids biking, walking, and scootering to and from school, there is no question that driving slower saves lives.

Today, our kids are showing us the more walkable, sustainable world we need. Let's hope we're all paying attention.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

There is a need for better more user friendly ways to walk and bike and this program helps bring attention to that need. I remember growing up in Orange that going to school the sidewalks would end suddenly to be replaced by stretches with no sidewalk or a dirt path, then the sidewalk would just as suddenly start back up again later on. Or one side of the street would have a sidewalk while some parts across the street would have no sidewalk. This was dangerous for walkers. There were no bike lanes. Those are fairly new. And getting across streets was hard either walking or on a bike because few of the streets had cross walks or signals. They just had a sign up saying watch for pedestrians, or yield, or if you were lucky stop. But that was in the 1960s and 1970s. Things have changed since then here, especially in South Orange County. But there are other parts of the state like up around Lone Pine where things have not changed and there are probably places all across the country where things have not changed that much. So this program will be a good thing to bring attention to the need to schools, parents, and city and county officials. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Mark Kaepplein]

I think parents are afraid to let their kids walk to work or play outside because risk of harm or abduction are overamplified by media and co-benefactors. FDR's famous quote - "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." sums it up, but too many use fear to get their message heard. TV news program advertisers are mostly drug companies suggesting their product for possible ailments. Bush sold the Iraq war with fear of WMDs. DOT uses fear to promote safety laws. Law Enforcement use fear for enforcement and budget justification. Local news uses fear to stay tuned for the weather and much of its content is of car crashes, fires, crimes, natural disasters, and accidents. FOX News uses fear constantly in all its commentary. The list goes on, eventually including those actually called terrorists.

Now, with a culture of fear mongers, is it any surprise parents drive their kids to school and keep them inside in front of the TV, computer, or game console?

A few marches with signs won't solve the root problem of all the exaggerations of real danger. First we need to fix the damage by the Bush admisistration who used fear to sell two wars, a new beurocracy (Homeland Security), huge spending increases, losses of: freedom, privacy, mobility, speech, dignity, and finally the loss of financial security.

Second, encourage everyone to not rely on fear as a selling tactic. "Fear is for terrorists." "Bow to fear and terrorism wins." Create a negative association with terrorists for those who use fear to promote a message. I hope this will also reduce the "Cry Wolf" inattention fatigue from warning labels on everything, caused by companies with genuine fears of lawyers and lawsuits.

The public will benefit with less stress, more freedom, happiness, and health when scare tactics become infrequent.

[OC Dermatologist]

I am very impressed with the work you are doing. I believe involving the kids in the effort to change our living habits for the better is the perfect way to reach parents with the same message.

[Tom Landy]

I think that the walk to school day is a great idea. Any idea how many kids/ districts took part?

Perhaps next year carry it one step further by having the parents walk to school with their childern. Everyone could use the exercise.

[Protex]

This is a great initiative. I have lived in dense communities where walking is encouraged and also in suburban sprawling communities where you have to drive to even get to your mailbox.

I am pleased to see many cities are focusing on rebuilding communities that value pedestrians and cyclists instead of sprawl and highway congestion.

Dallas Texas is an example of a city to watch in this type of development as they are trying to transform the exurbs back into a more livable city core.

It is good for health, the environment, air quality, and so much more. This is a great idea that I hope spreads.

[Richard Griffin]

I live in the UK and even hear, parents are afraid to allow their children to walk to school. I feel that children are missing out on valuable exercise which sets them up for better health later in life. Maybe if the media didn't fuel the fear of parents so much, parents wouldn't be so anxious.

I was born in 1961 and as far as I know, my parents had no fear of letting me out on my own. I always walked to school, and most other places. However, that may have been partly due to the fact that we didn't own a motor vehicle.

My point is, I feel that the walking exercise I did when I was young kept me fit and healthy and now it's my favourite exercise. I am also a keen social hiker, visiting the countryside with a group for company. Maybe if we could make walking to school for children more of a social activity in a group it would be safer and more attractive.

I think that's a great suggestion by "Tom Landy" to get the parents to walk to school with children. Parents and children would get more time together and the exercise could be good for the parents too. Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas on how to achieve it!

I know it's a complex issue but keep up the good work. Our children deserve a healthier future!

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I feel that the walking exercise I did when I was young kept me fit and healthy and now it's my favourite exercise. I am also a keen social hiker, visiting the countryside with a group for company.