Now, I am sure you’ve heard tall tales from people like me complaining about how we had to walk three miles to school uphill in blinding snowstorms! However, there are many benefits to walking to school. The Safe Routes to School Program’s official Walk to School Day is Wednesday, May 2.
The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is managed by the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) through MassRIDES, the Commonwealth's travel options program. The SRTS program educates students, parents and community members on the value of walking, bicycling, carpooling, and taking public transit and the school bus for travel to and from school. Travel to school can account for up to 25% of morning traffic nationwide.
Twenty-two of the SRTS partner schools are participating in Massachusetts Walk to School Day by promoting programs such as the Traveler Ticket and Walking School Bus activities.
Traveler Ticket: Activity encourages healthy transportation alternatives to school. The goal for the students is to receive 20 marks (20 days of trip travel) on their traveler ticket by walking, bicycling, multi-family carpooling, or riding the bus. Students are eligible for rewards each time they complete their ticket.
Walking School Bus: Program that organizes groups of people (children, parents, and neighbors) to walk or bicycle from a designated location to and from school.
Drivers, be aware that on May 2, you may encounter more pedestrian traffic in your neighborhoods as the kids walk to school.
For more information on the Safe Routes to School program, please call 1.888.4COMMUTE (426.6688) or visit www.commute.com
