NEWS
Davidson Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School Day-Wednesday, October 12
This was the scene in 2019 of Davidson’s Walk and Bike to School day.
Davidson students, families, and community members will join students from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 12.
This event is organized in partnership with the North Carolina Safe Routes to School Program and seeks to raise awareness for pedestrian safety, environmental conservation, importance of physical activity and the Town of Davidson’s commitment to being a walking and bicycle friendly community.
Drivers should use extra caution as students will be walking and riding to school with parents and caregivers along sidewalks, low-volume streets, and greenways. Police officers and community volunteers will be stationed at key intersections throughout town. Some schools will also engage in pedestrian-themed activities during the school day.
“As a town, we encourage walking, biking, and other means of personal mobility. Numerous studies show walking has a positive effect on the child’s mental wellbeing.” said Davidson Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Willis.
If you are interested in volunteering on October 12, visit https://volunteersignup.org/4WP3L
For more information on Davidson’s “International Walk to School Day,” please contact the Davidson Parks and Recreation Department at (704) 892-3349 or [email protected].
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
About “International Walk to School Day”
Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create “International Walk to School Day.”
In May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School serves as the national coordinating agency for “Walk to School” activities in the United States.
“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 Bicycling and Walking, 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. In North Carolina, the Active Routes to School project is a Safe Routes to School partnership between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Division of Public Health.