The goal of International Walk to School Day was to promote biking and walking as viable transportation options to and from school.  Why?  According to a Talking Points bulletin from the National Center for Safe Routes to School:

• 1 out of 5 children are overweight.  Walking or biking allows students time for physical activity.  Active children are less prone to becoming overweight and developing chronic diseases earlier in life.
• Walking and biking to school gives children a sense of responsibility and independence.  It also allows time to socialize with parents, friends and neighbors which enhances the sense of community.
• Walking and biking reduces traffic congestion and thus improves air quality.
• Steady increases in gass prices and greater distances between school and home have strained school transportation budgets across the country.

Unfortunately, fewer children walk or bike to school than did so a generation ago.  Today 16% of children walk to school today as compared to 42% in 1969.  There are many reasons for this statistic including distance to schools, perceptions of crime, lack of sidewalks, school busing policies, traffic concerns and lack of motivation. 

Many students are not able to walk or bike even if they wanted to due to the distance between their schools and home.  Schools are moving out to the edge of town where land is less expensive and more available.  However, many students who live relatively close choose not to walk due to one orore of the aforementioned barriers.  Many of these barriers were addressed during Walk to School events.

Two schools in Butler County, with "Walk to School" grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation sponsored events.

• Van Buren Elementary in Hamilton had participating students meet at two designated locations to walk, with adult volunteers, along designated safe routes to school.  The students and volunteers completed "walking audits" and identified barriers along the way (dilapidated sidewalks, barking dogs, etc.).  The audits will be used to engage the community to address these barriers.  Non-walking students participated in special walking activities during recess.
• Woodland Elementary in the Lakota District, in cooperation with OSU Extension, Liberty Township, Lakota YMCA, the State Highway Patrol, and the Butler County Sherriff's office, sponsored a "Walk Home from School" day.  Participating students walked collectively along a newly constructed sidewalk to Liberty Park where they then participated in educational activities related to fitness and pedestrian safety.  A meeting with parents also took place to address walking and biking concerns int he community.