Each year October is International Walk to School Month. It gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. Walkers from around the world walk to school together, helping create communities that are safe places to walk.
There can be a number of goals for being involved, varying across different communities and countries. Some aim for safer and improved streets, others promoting healthier habits or to conserve the environment. Whatever the reason, International Walk to School month events encourage a world that is increasingly walkable — one community at a time.
As kids, we enjoyed walking to school because it was fun. Now, as adults, we understand all the additional reasons that active school travel is so important. It allows children to get to know their neighbourhoods, get exercise, and improve their concentration levels at school.
Armi De Francia and Laura Zeglen, Canadian School Travel Planners
According to new research by Living Streets, children who walk to their school are more engaged with their streets and are more aware of the impact of cars than those who don’t. For more information, their website is: