PUBLIC HEALTH ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO WALK/BIKE TO SCHOOL COLLABORATIVELY WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO MAKE IT SAFER

The number of children walking and bicycling to school has dramatically reduced in the past decades. In 2001, only 15% of all trips to school were walking and bicycling (85% were motorized transportation). The decrease in walking and biking to school coincides with a nationwide increase in childhood obesity. Walking and bicycling to and from school increases opportunities for daily physical activity.

Benefits of Walking and Bicycling to School

• Regular physical activity for children: builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles and joints; helps control weight and prevent chronic disease; reduces stress, feelings of depression and anxiety, and improve self-esteem; and fosters healthy social development.
• Less reliance on automobiles and improved air quality: increased likelihood that children and adults will choose to walk or bicycle other short distance trips which in turn helps reduce air pollution.
• Safer routes for walking and bicycling: encourages the creation of an environment that is supportive of walking and bicycling to school safely.
• Reduced speeding and traffic calming measures in local neighborhoods
• Fewer cars congesting the pick-up and drop-off points at school and development of school traffic safety plans
• Decreased neighborhood and school traffic
• More social interaction: friendlier and safer neighborhoods as people get out and about interacting with one another.

Local Activities Working to Promote Walking and Biking to School

• Reduce speeding in local neighborhoods and communities by participating in the Safe Communities Slow Down Yard Sign campaign.
• Development of school traffic safety plans. This requires a collaborative effort by many in the community and Public Health has been an active partner.
• Steps to developing a school traffic safety plan
• Dane County school traffic safety plans
• Walk Our Children to School Campaign in Dane County: There are a number of activities that take place at schools across Dane County during the first week in October to promote walking to school and to raise awareness about pedestrian safety.
• Pedestrian safety tips for children walking to school.

2010 Dane County Walk Our Children to School Activities (Photo summaries)

• Madison:
  • Crestwood Elementary (PDF)
  • Muir Elementary (PDF)
  • Orchard Ridge Elementary and Toki Middle School (PDF)
  • Van Hise Elementary (PDF)
• Mount Horeb:
  • Early Learning Center, Primary Center and Intermediate Center (PDF)
• Sun Prairie:
  • C. H. Bird Elementary (PDF)