Keep Playin' That Walk & Roll!

Next Wednesday morning, October 29th, middle school and elementary students across Columbia will lace up their sneakers and roll out their bikes for a special event: Walk & Roll to School Day. This event will be sponsored by local participants in the Safe Routes To School initiative, a new community partnership between the City of Columbia, local schools, parents and students.

Columbia's event is this community's first foray into an annual celebration observed in more than 42 countries to promote physical activity and taking safe routes to school. It's focus is encouraging more students to walk or ride to school, a trend that reflects increasing public interest in what has been come to be known as the "walkability" factor--more consumers are looking for places to live where they don't always have to drive and pump less gas to get to where they want to go.

Parkview Elementary, Columbia Middle School and Immaculate Conception School have agreed to encourage their students to bypass the family mini-van and roll or stroll to school next Wednesday in a combined effort to boost non-motorized attendance. Representatives from these schools and other community leaders recently adopted a School Travel Plan that identifies barriers to such travel--and suggests solutions.

More on the elements of the School Travel Plan in posts to follow this week...