2 Columbia Schools Participate in Walk to School Day 2016

COLUMBIA, MD — Two elementary schools in Columbia will join thousands from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day this Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Walk to School Day events raise awareness about pedestrian safety and physical activity as well as environmental and traffic concerns. The events build connections among families, schools and the broader community.

Swansfield and Clemens Crossing elementary schools in Columbia will be part of the 2016 event, and so will four other Howard County public schools. It is the 11th year that Swansfield is part of Walk to School Day, and this year bus drivers will drop off kids in the parking lot across the street from school so even those who do not traditionally walk to school can participate. At Rockburn, the PTA has organized two locations where kids and their guardians can meet at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday for a safety presentation and group walk. Northfield will host a celebration on the front lawn, with specific emphasis on bicycle safety too. And at Pointers Run, students who participate will get charms when they arrive at school.

These schools in Howard County are joining in International Walk to School Day 2016:

• Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia
• Clemens Crossing Elementary School, 10320 Quarterstaff Road, Columbia
• Rockburn Elementary School, 6145 Montgomery Road, Elkridge
• Bellows Spring Elementary School, 8125 Old Stockbridge Drive, Ellicott City
• Northfield Elementary School, 9125 Northfield Road, Ellicott City
• Pointers Run Elementary School, 6600 South Trotter Road, Clarksville

Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create International Walk to School Day.

Walk to School Day began as a simple idea — children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity and the need for safe places to walk and bike.

In May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school.

Each year, nearly 500 child pedestrians are killed in the United States. In 2014 alone, more than 16,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries.

— Patch Staff

Photo: Public domain, CDC, Amanda Mills.