"On the first International Walk to School Day, we had nine schools involved with 75% to 95% of kids participating. We had no traffic on our roads and it was just a sight to behold. Now, four years later, we have 40 schools exploring the program and have been able to reduce traffic by up to 13% between fall and spring. We've brought in more than $1 million in grants to improve our streets and we've noticed that there are more adults and children walking and biking for their everyday needs."
Program Director
Marin County Safe Routes to School
News & Events
Related Links
Have families complete a walkability checklist to help families choose routes to school and to help schools and community leaders choose where to fix problems.
Create walkable places. Work for permanent improvements that help children walk more and walk safely.
Program Overview [PDF]
Welcome to California's Walk to School Headquarters
The Walk to School Headquarters offer resources to encourage more adults and children to walk and bike to school together to raise awareness about:
- The importance of teaching children safe walking and bicycling behaviors, such as how to cross streets, and how to select safe routes to school.
- How easy and enjoyable walking is! Adults and children spend healthy, active time together doing the world's simplest exercise - walking.
- Taking specific steps to create more walkable communities such as advocating for more crosswalks, sidewalks, crossing guards and better driver behavior.
The California Center for Physical Activity operates California's Walk to School Headquarters, which provides all the materials, ideas and technical assistance needed to start or maintain a Walk to School program in your neighborhood. Whether you're starting your first Walk to School program, or are a seasoned veteran, our tools, services, and technical assistance can help you build a program for maximum success. We'd also be glad to connect you with experts who can advise you on ways to improve walkability for your school and information on applying for Safe Routes to School funds.
INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH IS OCTOBER 2009
WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK IS OCTOBER 5-9, 2009
WALK TO SCHOOL DAY IS OCTOBER 7, 2009
International Walk to School Month takes place around the world in October. It's an international month that raises awareness about the positive ways walking and bicycling to school helps children and communities. In neighborhoods from the United States to Mexico, South Korea, India and Great Britain, October is the month to walk to school!
Walk to School events are fun and educational. Whether you participate in International Walk to School Week for just one day, the week, or all year long, you are helping to create safe and pleasant neighborhoods for children walking to and from school.
Check out our site to see what it takes to improve the school environment - whether its sidewalks, more animal control services, better drop-off zone procedures, more crossing guards, or more parents walking with children. You can help, and this event can help!
WORLD AT YOUR FEET – LINK YOUR SCHOOL WITH A SCHOOL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom's London Borough of Bromley is to establish a "sister school" program, linking schools in Bromley with those in California that are participating in walk to school events. If your school is interested in participating, contact Louise French in Bromley at Louise.French@bromley.gov.uk.
FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANT?
Start with the Resources section for all the information you need to plan a Walk to School event, including:
- a timeline to plan your Walk to School events
- a Walk to School proclamation for school boards
- a Walk to School brochure - available in English and Spanish
- a Walk to School poster
- a walkability checklist, available in 11 languages, that helps students, parents and school officials identify and address safety and infrastructure issues that pose barriers for children walking to and from school
- a flier to recruit Walk to School participants
- a letter to parents and the school principal about Walk to School Week
WALK TO SCHOOL VETERAN?
Be sure to check out our Ongoing Activities for new ideas.