Walk, roll or carpool to school THIS Friday!
Let’s take a step together towards a greener planet.
We’re so excited to see a parade of students choosing greener methods to come to school on Friday. Keep in mind that you can still participate, even if you live far from school. Take the bus. Carpool. Or drive partway to school, and walk with the rest of the way with friends.
Orange County Transit Authority is also sponsoring a sweepstakes for adults participating in Rideshare week from October 3-7. Sign up HERE and let them know how you’re going to participate in greener transportation solutions, and enter for a chance to win prizes.
How do environmentally friendly days help?
• Healthy Living: Our kids need exercise! With busy family schedules, many students
fall short of the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day (CDC). By walking
or rolling to school, our students can get more physical activity and improve their
overall health (Activelivingresearch.org)
• Less Traffic, More Safety: Did you know? Up to a quarter of morning traffic is
generated by parents driving kids to school (National Center for Safe Routes to School)
More traffic often means more congestion and less safe travel environments for
everyone. If more children walked, bicycled or rolled to school, it would reduce the
number of cars near the school at pick-up and drop-off times, making it safer for
walkers and bicyclists and reducing congestion.
• Learning: When students exercise before school, they arrive focused and ready to learn
(Activelivingresearch.org). By volunteering for SRTS events, you can improve students’
health and readiness to learn without taking time away from existing school-day
activities. Programs such as walking school buses also help get students to school and
decrease rates of absenteeism.
• Clean Air and Water: Exposure to air pollutants caused by vehicle exhaust can cause
short-term health problems, like headaches and nausea, and long-term health problems,
such as asthma and heart disease (US EPA). Choosing more sustainable ways to get
around, like walking, biking and carpooling don’t produce as much air pollution!
• Increased Social Interactions: We often feel more engaged when we build
relationships with other parents. By walking, rolling and carpooling to school, we can
meet more families (and other neighbors) on the way to school. These increased social
interactions can create more connections and build a more cohesive school community.
• Cost-Effective: Transportation costs can be a large part of families’ budgets. Walking
and biking allows you to save money on gas – and is a time responsibility that can be
shared among a group of families.