ASHEVILLE, NC (October 3, 2016)…Past generations used to walk to and from school, uphill, both ways, as the legends go.
Thousands of students at more than 100 schools in Western North Carolina will do something similar on Wednesday — minus the uphill both ways part of the story — and participate in International Walk to School.
Walk to School Day Teaches Lessons
The N.C. Department of Transportation is an active participant through its Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, which promotes the Safe Routes to School program. Governor Pat McCrory’s 25-year Vision for Transportation includes expanding bicycle and pedestrian initiatives and infrastructure.
“Walk to School Day is in response to the Governor’s vision for transportation and for our division to help reduce severe injuries and fatalities among cyclists and pedestrians,” said Ed Johnson, acting director for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Division. “We do this by teaching children how to walk and bike to school safely and how to use facilities already at the schools.”
Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create and utilize safer routes for walking and cycling while also emphasizing the importance of physical activity, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and environmental stewardship. The events strengthen connections between families, schools and communities.
In Jackson County, more than 350 students at Fairview Elementary School will be walking to school alongside staff, teachers, community leaders, elected officials and a large contingency of Western Carolina University student-athletes.
Participation in the event varies by school, school district and county in Western North Carolina. The entire Surry County School District will participate for the second consecutive year.
In three years, North Carolina has risen from No. 27 to No. 3 in the country in terms of the number of schools participating per state. More than 90 schools in the 25 westernmost counties of North Carolina will participate in some version of a Walk To School Program on Oct. 5 or in the following weeks.
More information on Walk to School Day can be found here or through the BikePed page on NCDOT.gov.