10/1/2007
Idaho children to participate in Walk to School Day; First Lady to speak at Boise school
BOISE - Wednesday morning more Idaho school children than ever before will walk and bike to school as part of International Walk to School Day.
They will join approximately 5 million children from 40 other countries who are taking small steps to increase daily activity.
The rise in childhood illnesses like diabetes that are associated with a lack of daily exercise is now considered a worldwide epidemic among children.
Thirty-four schools across Idaho have committed to participate in the worldwide event and have registered on the International Walk to School web site. Many of the schools that registered this year will benefit from funding to support on-going efforts to make walking and biking to school a regular occurrence through Idaho's Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S).
The federally funded program, administered by ITD, provides reimbursements to schools, cities and highway districts for programs that improve walking/bicycling routes and educational programs to encourage students to fore go motorized travel to school.
"Childhood obesity rates are rising rapidly, while physical education classes are being cut out due to budget constraints," explains Congressman James Oberstar (D-Minnesota), chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
"We must find a way to help promote healthy living habits at an early age, and this program has the potential to reverse the sedentary lifestyle that is all too common today. Small changes like adult supervision at intersections, better training of school patrols and improved sidewalks or bike paths are enough to encourage parents to let their kids walk or bike to school instead of sitting on a bus or riding in a car."
"This program (Safe Routes to School) has the potential to improve the health and well-being of an entire generation of school children."
His comments echo those of Idaho First Lady Lori Otter, who helped inaugurate Idahos Safe Routes to School program in June.
Mrs. Otter, a former physical education and health teacher, emphasized the need for children to adopt a more active lifestyle, including bicycling and walking to school.
"Getting involved and organizing an International Walk to School Day event often is the first step for many schools toward a building a sustainable Safe Routes to School program," Mrs. Otter said. "It requires the commitment of various community partnerships to make these projects possible."
Consider:
* In 1969, 42 percent of students walked or rode bicycles to schoolWednesday's events in Idaho range from bicycle safety lessons and a bike rodeo in American Falls, walking and biking school buses and appearances by Boise State University football players in Boise, to a community-wide effort in Carey, a neighborhood walk in Hailey and a sidewalk ribbon-cutting ceremony that includes the Rotary Club in Sandpoint.
* In 2001, only 16 percent of the students between the ages of 5 and 15 walked or bicycled to or from school
* Among children 9-13 years of age, 61.6 percent do not engage in organized physical activity during non-school hours; 22.6 percent do not participate in any free-time physical activities
* Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
* Potential benefits of physical activity for youth include:o Weight and blood pressure control* As much as 25 percent of the morning rush hour traffic can be related to school
o Bone, muscle and joint health and maintenance
o Reductions in the risk of diabetes
o Improved psychological welfare
o Better academic performance
* It takes about 5-10 minutes for children to walk a quarter of a mile or bicycle an entire mile.
* School districts across the country are experiencing the strain on school transportation budgets as a result of increased fuel prices.
SR2S projects all have a common denominator, each requires the collaboration of transportation, education, local government, law enforcement, and most important motivated children, and parents to reach their desired outcome.
Most SR2S funds supports infrastructure improvements. Less than 30 percent of the funds go toward non-infrastructure efforts that support education and encouragement strategies.
The First Lady will attend an assembly organized by the Safe Kids Coalition Treasure Valley on Tuesday at 1 p.m., at Washington Elementary School in Boise. She will speak to the children and read a Governor's Proclamation declaring Wednesday Oct. 3, 2007, International Walk to School Day. Because a disproportionately high number of pedestrian injuries occur among children 5-9 years of age, the Safe Kids Treasure Valley and other community partners will help prepare children to walk and bike safely to school.
Safe Kids Coalition community partners include Fed Ex, Ada County Highway District, Boise Police Department, Central District Health Department and Idaho Transportation Department.
In conjunction with International Walk to School Day, the ITD will begin accepting Letters of Intent to Apply for 2008 SR2S funding on Wednesday. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31.
To apply for 2008 SR2S funding go to www.itd.idaho.gov/srts and click on "How to Apply" to download the FY08 Letter of Intent to Apply.
To see who's registered for International Walk to School Day go to www.walktoschool.org.
For information about Idaho's SR2S program, contact the coordinator, Jo O'Connor at (208) 334-4475.