“This event is an excellent way to bring the families and the leaders of these communities together to show the importance of bike and pedestrian safety, especially for our children,” said Hanna Cockburn, director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Division. “It’s also a great way to get people excited about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”
In addition to being healthier, walking to school also may benefit students’ academic well-being more than riding to school in a vehicle. Students who get more physical activity have better academic success than those who do not, according to research the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study found that in North Carolina, students who take part in National Walk to School Day are six to eight times more likely to walk to school regularly, helping children get the physical activity they need.
To learn more about Walk to School Day, please visit www.walktoschool.org.