Registration Still Open for International Walk to School Day Oct. 9

It's not too late for schools in South Carolina to participate in the 2013 International Walk to School Day (IWalk) to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

School representatives can register at the National Walk to School Day website: www.walkbiketoschool.org.

In 2012, South Carolina Safe Routes to School program accomplished two major feats. One, South Carolina had a record 210 schools registered for International Walk to School Day. In addition, South Carolina had the nation's highest rate of school participation for International Walk to School Day. One in every five elementary and middle schools in our state registered and participated in IWALK.

The program continues to gain in popularity in South Carolina.

South Carolina Safe Routes to School program has already surpassed last year's record total by 22 percent and has over 270 schools who have already registered to participate in walk to school events! Currently, SC is ranked #2 in the country with the number of schools registered to participate.

"The number of schools participating in International Walk to School Day grows annually and shows that there is an interest in walking to school in South Carolina," says SCDOT State Safe Routes to School Coordinator Rodney Oldham. "Schools continue signing up year after year. When other communities learn about it, those schools want to participate as well. It's fun, a great way to promote physical activity and gets kids and their parents/guardians moving."

International Walk to School Day is a global event where communities from over 40 countries walk and bike to school.  Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize increasing physical activity among children, teaching pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion, creating concern for the environment, and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Resource Center provides materials and support to South Carolina's International Walk to School Day events. To find participating schools in your area and to learn more about walk events go to: www.walkbiketoschool.org/go/.  You can also contact regionally-based SRTS School Outreach Coordinators or go to www.SCSafeRoutes.org for more information about events, materials, and opportunities to participate.  

For additional information, please visit these Web sites:

SC Safe Routes to School Resource Center                           www.scsaferoutes.org

International Walk to School in the USA                               www.walkbiketoschool.org                                

National Center for Safe Routes to School                            www.saferoutesinfo.org   

International Walk to School                                                  www.iwalktoschool.org