Cycling and Walking to School Helps Kids
Wheel Life column - September 16, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

One of the best gifts we can provide children is regular physical exercise. Active kids are happy, healthy and wise. Our own energetic children are always in a better mood after they've had plenty of outdoor exercise, and studies show that students who bike or walk to school perform better in academic tests.

A few decades ago most children spent about three hours a DAY in outside play activity such as walking, running and games, but now children average only about three hours a WEEK, a huge reduction in their opportunity to exercise and explore their community.

Parents should ask, "What outdoor physical activity can I share with my children several times each week?" One of the most convenient and sensible ways to integrate regular exercise into children's lives is simply to cycle and walk to and from school. Even if you must drive part way, you can park a distance from the school and walk the rest.

Many schools are beginning to support "active transportation." Here in British Columbia, a program called * Way to Go!"* is being developed with support from the RoadSense Team (Autoplan Brokers and ICBC). It helps elementary and middle school parents choose safer, more active travel for their children.

An increasing portion of children are driven to school. The result is more congestion and parking problems, greater risk to students who bicycle or walk, and children who never learn pedestrian or bicycle safety skills.

*Way to Go!* is part of a worldwide effort to address these problems. It provides a range of practical strategies to encourage change. Schools can order free resource kits, which are chock full of useful materials.

This BC-made program has joined forces with *Go for Green* in Ottawa for International Walk to School Day (nicknamed *"iwalk"*), Wednesday October 4. More than thirty South Island schools are joining thousands of other schools throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and even Africa to encourage students to travel under their own power.

Brentwood Elementary teacher, Carol Kenway, is helping her school gear up for this year's *iwalk*, inspired by their spectacular success last year. "It was a really good day," Kenway said about *iwalk* 1999. "Many staff biked and walked as well. Kids are beginning to push their parents to participate!"

Some schools are making this a year-round activity with regular "Walkin' Wheelin' Wednesdays" or "Fantastic Fuel Free Fridays." A Visibility Awareness Campaign starts in mid-October to remind students to wear bright colours during the day, and reflective materials during low-light conditions (dawn, dusk, rain).

Of course, we are a bit biased about this program. Our own children have benefited from *Way to Go!* at their school, and insist on cycling whenever possible. One of us (Suzanne) is the *Way to Go!* program's South Island Regional Coordinator.

Your school can participate too. For more information visit http://www.iwalktoschool.org or http://www.waytogo.icbc.bc.ca, e-mail kort@islandnet.com, phone: 250-388-0781 (Victoria), or call toll free 1-877-325-3636.

Is this program just for children? Heck no! Adults enjoy regular aerobic exercise too. We all need reminders that walking or cycling can be easy, safe, stress-reducing, non-polluting and fun.