Picture
This!
What's new this week in
transportation
Online videos
remind kids to Walk Smart
Two boys
urge their friend not to jaywalk but to join them in using
the crosswalk instead, in this scene from a
"Walk
Smart" streaming video produced with students from
Emerald Park Elementary School in Kent. County Executive Ron
Sims joined Emerald Park students on Wednesday to
celebrate "Walk to School Week."
Families across
King County are taking steps to make the walk to school safer
this week, as they participate in an international program to
improve health and pedestrian safety and reduce traffic
congestion near schools and in neighborhoods.
"Walk
to School Week" is being celebrated around the
world from Oct. 1-5. Educators, parents, community leaders
and transportation officials are all working together to
promote safer roadways at a time of year when concern over
pedestrian accidents is on the rise.
Here in King
County, many schoolchildren will be joined on the walk to
school by their parents and other concerned adults. At Emerald
Park Elementary School in Kent, several children were accompanied by King County Executive Ron Sims, who later
hosted a safety assembly at their school.
Activities and
lessons throughout the week teach children safe walking
skills and how to identify safe routes to schools. It
increases the awareness of how walkable a community is and
where improvements could be made. The mission of the event is
to promote physical activity through the easiest to do
exercise -- walking. Parents are also encouraged to
participate to learn how they can reduce traffic congestion,
pollution and speed near schools.
King County's
campaign includes a number of
streaming
videos that feature children in their own words, sharing
tips they've learned about safe walking. The online
streaming videos are funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety
Commission.
Nearly 50 schools
in King County are planning a variety of events to mark this
year's international "Walk
Our Children to School Week." Visit the Web site to
learn more about walk events and participating schools, and
get more information about walking safely. Other new
information includes downloadable Walk Smart bookmarks with
kids' drawings -- and ideas on what to do at your
school.
Many students and
parents will use the walk event to identify the best walking
routes to schools or to bus stops while others will be
looking for potential improvements that could make their walk
even safer.
Information
gathered during the walks will be considered along with other
ideas offered by parents and students as schools and traffic
safety engineers look at ways to improve streets and roads in
King County.
Related
links
King County Walk
to School Week Web site
"Walk
Smart" streaming videos
"Sims
to walk with schoolkids to help international program," South County
Journal, Oct. 3, 2001
"Walking
to school safely should be kids' first lesson," The Herald editorial, Oct.
2, 2001
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