Posted on 05/12/2017 7:02:58 AM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — As many opted for a typical car or bus ride to school, others chose more of an environmentally-friendly approach to commemorate National Bike/Walk to School Day on Wednesday.
The day is part of National Bike/Walk to School Week, supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
“On Bike to School Day, we’re pleased to report that places around the country are celebrating the fun of biking to school and prioritizing children as they look to improve transportation safety for their entire communities,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School in a press release. “For example, Chicago, New York City and many rural and small town communities are seeing school zones as priority places to address speeding traffic – which can have safety benefits for everyone.”
Locally, Sierra Vista Unified School District elementary campuses were flooded with students and parents riding (and walking) to school.
Lindsay Cushman, Huachuca Mountain Elementary School physical education teacher/health and wellness coordinator, said it is important to advocate staying active as it “helps the students physically and academically.”
We gave seven bikes last Friday through a drawing,” Cushman said. “That way, those kids can also participate.”
Kelly Danielson, Pueblo Del Sol Elementary School K-3 Resource (Special Education) teacher and school health coordinator, agrees with Cushman in the importance of staying active
“In my opinion, staying active is very important – especially for kids. Obesity and a number of health issues are on the rise for people of all ages, but especially kids,” she said. “When kids are active they are able to expel their energy in a productive/healthy way and are more focused in the classroom. Not to mention the health benefits that keep the brain working it’s best. Being active and healthy from a young age creates a lifestyle that will hopefully be easier for kids to maintain as they age.”
PDS also raffled six bikes this month, courtesy of Target and the Legacy Foundation.
“We are excited to know that those students would be able to ride to school this week,” said PDS principal Christine Tucker. “All of our schools participate in this national event; however, Pueblo del Sol Elementary school has the largest population of students who live in close proximity to the school and have a better opportunity to enjoy our city sidewalks and staffed crosswalks. Our police have been instrumental in providing an increased presence during this week and we are fortunate to have soldiers from Fort Huachuca help with our crosswalks and sidewalk safety.”
The campus also celebrated the week with special guests including radio station, K101. National Bike/Walk to School Week ends Friday.
May is marked as National Bike Month by the League of American Bicyclists.
For more information, visit bikeleague.org/bikemonth.
Just a minute. In some areas parents are arrested for letting kids walk to school.
Straighten out what you think. Which is it?
We have neither the Peds, nor the Traffic, the Namby Pamby Parent/Libs/DemRATS that Tucson/Pima County Has.
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