| Schools that plan to
participate in the event are encouraged to spend time
instructing students on pedestrian and bicycle safety prior
to the Oct. 5 International Walk to School Day. Information
on pedestrian and bicycle safety is available through IDOT’s
website at
www.dot.il.gov/bikemap/litlist.html. More than 30
cities throughout Illinois have already organized Walk to School Day
events for Oct. 5. Here is a link to schools that have registered an
event on the International Walk to School Day website:
www.walktoschool.org/who/seestate.cfm?st=IL.
|
International Walk to School Day
originated in Chicago in 1997 as National Walk our
Children to School Day. The intent of the original walk
to school day was to create community awareness about
making it safe for children to walk to school.
The first International Walk to
School Day was 2000 when the United Kingdom and Canada
joined the United States in participation. Legislation
was passed in 2005 that provided $612 million in funding
for the National Center for Safe Routes to School to
improve the safety of pedestrian and bike routes to
school. The 2010 International Walk to School Day had
3,500 registered events and included Puerto Rico for the
first time.
The slogan for the 2011 International Walk to School
Day is “Hike it. Bike it. I like it!” The slogan was
submitted by Horace Mann Elementary School in Oak Park
and chosen via an online vote. Contact IDOT at
william.e.hall@illinois.gov or (815) 434-8520 with any questions
about the event.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
www.walktoschool.org |
|
The first National Walk Our Children
to School Day was held in Chicago in 1997 and included
Mayor Richard M. Daley (center).
- Photo by Jim
Peterson
|
ATTENTION
School administrators participating in International Walk to School Day should
CLICK HERE to obtain a form that will help IDOT keep track of Illinois schools participating in IWTSD on October 5.
Press Coverage
“Columnist encourages parents, students to walk to school”
— Naperville Sun (Sept. 19, 2011)
“Schools gear up for walk and roll to school day” —
Elmhurst Trib Local (Sept. 19, 2011)
“Students walking to school Oct. 5” — Morris Daily
Herald (Sept. 21, 2011)
"Evanston,
Skokie gear up for International Walk to School Day” —
The Daily Northwestern (Sept. 28, 2011)
“Walk
this way at Ridgewood Elementary” — Moline Dispatch/Rock
Island Argus (Sept. 30, 2011)
“Kids invited to 'hike it, bike it' Wednesday” — Carmi
Times (Oct. 2, 2011)
“Arcola
to participate in ‘Walk to School Day” — Charleston
Times-Courier/Mattoon Journal Gazette (Oct. 3, 2011) |
