Winchester Schools to Take Part in International Walk to School Day

WINCHESTER, MA – Students from two schools in Winchester join thousands from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day this Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools and the broader community.

Winchester's Lincoln and Vinson Owen elementary schools have signed up to hold events.

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.

>>>Image viaWalkbiketoschool.org.

Maggie Avants (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.