PRESS RELEASE: International Walk/Bike To School Day October 4th, resources available

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dr. Brent Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
5916 Arlington Ave
Raytown, MO 64133
876-695-6736 (cell)
816-356-1740 (home)
director@MoBikeFed.org


International Walk/Bike To School Day October 4th

Resources for students, parents, and teachers are available


"Walking to school is good for kids and they love it," says Missouri Bicycle Federation Executive Director Brent Hugh.

"When I was going to school myself, the majority of kids walked or bicycled to school. Now just a few do. Kids who walk and bicycle have better health and do better academically.

"Walk to School Day is easy to get started--just one parent, student, teacher, or administrator is all it takes."

Columbia's PedNET has developed one of the premier Safe Routes to School programs in the nation. PedNET has developed simple step by step instructions that allow any parent, teacher, or administrator put together a Walk to School Day.

PedNET's step by step instructions are free and are available online at

http://MoBikeFed.org/WalkToSchool


--
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, founded in 1994, represents the interests of bicyclists, walkers, runners, and trail users throughout Missouri. Through its network of affiliated clubs and groups, MoBikeFed represents over 10,000 Missouri citizens. Find out more or join the federation at MoBikeFed.org


--Walk to School Day 2006 Facts-------

* International Walk/Bike to School Day is Wed, October 4th, 2006.

* International Walk/Bike to School Week is October 2-6, 2006.

* International Walk/Bike to School Month is October 2006.

* In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

* In 2001, 16 percent of students between the ages of 5 and 15 walked or bicycled to or from school. In 1969, 42 percent of students walked or bicycled to school.

* As much as twenty-five percent of morning rush hour traffic can be school-related. Traffic can lead to even less walking or bicycling. As more children are driven, more parents become convinced that traffic conditions make it unsafe for walking or bicycling and they join the line of cars at the school.

* School districts across the country are feeling the strain on school transportation budgets as a result of increased fuel prices. Walking and bicycling to school offers a no-cost or low-cost alternative to bus and passenger vehicle transportation.

* Vehicle speed is a key element in safety. Driving slower saves lives. A pedestrian hit by a car traveling 40 mph has a mere 15 percent chance of survival. At 30 mph, those odds increase to 45 percent. By contrast, a pedestrian has an 85 percent chance of survival if hit by a car moving at 20 mph.

* Most kids aren't getting the exercise they need. Among 9 to 13 year-old children, 61.5 percent do not engage in organized physical activity during non-school hours; 22.6 percent do not participate in any free-time physical activity. As age or grade in school increases, physical activity participation drastically declines. Less active children are more likely to be overweight. The percentage of overweight children aged 6 to 11 years old has approximately tripled over the past 30 years. Walking to school is associated with higher overall physical activity throughout the day.

Sources for all above facts:
http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/resources/talking-points.cfm


--article resources-------

Some participating schools in Missouri:
http://www.walktoschool.org/who/seestate.cfm?st=MO

Missouri Safe Routes to School and Walk to School resources:
http://MoBikeFed.org/SafeRoutes


###