Contra Costa County schools will join thousands of schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8 to reduce traffic and air pollution around school zones.

 Students from Bayview Elementary in Richmond will walk to school on October 8 for an event that promotes improving traffic safety skills, safer school zones, and physical activity.

“Walking or biking to school is a great opportunity for parents to teach children about traffic safety and promote walking as the easiest way to get daily physical activity,” said Nancy Baer, Manager of Contra Costa Health Services’ Injury Prevention and Physical Activity Promotion Projects

Nearly 4,000 Contra Costa residents were hospitalized as a result of motor vehicle accidents, according to studies conducted in Contra Costa from 2002-2004, 15% were pedestrians and bicyclists.

“With Walk to School Day we hope to increase the number of students that walk to school not only on October 8, but everyday. The more cars we get off the road, the less traffic we have around our schools and this equals safer walking and biking conditions for our children,” Baer said.

Participants will receive an official “I walked to School” sticker, a nutritious breakfast snack, and a variety of information on safety, healthy eating and physical activity.

The first Walk to School Day took place in Chicago in 1997 and went international in 2000 when it merged with preexisting programs in Canada and Great Britain to create International Walk to School Day. More information about the October 8 event can be found at: cawalktoschool.com, walktoschool.org, and

iwalktoschool.org.

  Vicky Balladares

Community & Media Relations Specialist

Contra Costa Health Services

Community Education & Information

 597 Center Ave. Suite 255

Martinez CA 94553

(925) 313-6817  Office

(925) 313-6219  Fax