Glendale’s Walk and Bike Your Child to School Day

Wednesday, October 8th, is Glendale’s Walk and Bike Your Child to School Day. This day supports the International Walk to School Month which is being celebrated around the world October 6 – 10.

The goal of celebrating a week of walking will vary from community to community. International Walk to School is more than just getting together with children and the community for one day or week a year! The event needs to bring forth permanent change in communities across the globe. Possible focus could be:

• Encourage physical fitness
• Raise awareness of how walkable a community is and where improvements can be made - (this supports our Safe Routes to School Plan request from each school)
• Raise concern for the environment
• Reduce crime and take back neighborhoods
• Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools (this supports our Safe Routes to School Plan)
• Share valuable time with local community leaders, parents and children

The thought of being able to make a difference from within communities on foot started in 1994 in Great Britain. Last year, in 2007, 42 countries and several million walkers participated in International Walk Week! The City of Glendale is joining in the effort to continue to improve our communities through encouragement, awareness, and efforts “one step at a time."

The official website of International Walk to School is www.iwalktoschool.org.