Oregon Walk + Bike to School

Oregon Walk + Bike To School Day

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Register here to make your school eligible for Walk + Bike to School Day event incentives for kids, and to receive other resources and support for this fun event.

See the list of registered schools.

Resources for Coordinating Walk and Bike to School Day:

Incentives and prizes for kids

Walk + Bike to School Day PLAYBOOK (18.8 Mb PDF) a 16-page full-color manual which takes you step by step through the process of creating a successful Walk + Bike to School Day event

Walk + Bike School Bus GUIDEBOOK (10.6 Mb PDF) a 26-page full-color manual which takes you step by step through the process of creating an ongoing walking or biking School Bus

Walk and Bike Key Media Messages

Obesity and Inactivity

What is Walk + Bike to School Day?
A Promotional Tool for Ongoing Walk and Bike To School Programs
A Promotional Tool for Safe Routes To School
A Positive Way to Raise Awareness of the Health Benefits of Walking and Biking
A Way to Show How Much Fun Walking and Biking Is!
A Way to Identify Barriers to Walking and Biking to School
A Teaching Tool to Help Kids Learn Safe Walking and Biking Behaviors

Why do we need it?

Prevalence of children considered over an ideal weight has tripled to almost 25% since 1970 (CDC 2000).

Sharp increase in cases of heart disease, certain types of cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and breathing problems.

Pedestrian and bicycle injuries are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children.

Asthma rates have increased 160% in the past 15 years in children.

Motor vehicle use is the source of more air pollution than any other activity.

Cost of health problems associated with being overweight in the U.S. in 2000 was $117 billion!

What does a typical Walk + Bike to School Day look like?
7am - Volunteers, officials and celebrities meet at designated meeting spots within one mile from the school with banners, vests and signs. Team leaders teach group pedestrian and bicycle safety skills.
7:30am - Adult-led Walking/Biking School Buses begin traveling a designated route to the school, picking up kids at houses, street corners, and/or businesses along the way
8:15am - Groups begin arriving at the school press conference/assembly location
8:30-9am - Principal facilitates assembly/press event, which includes officials, celebrities and other speakers and performers
9am - Students go to class, participants are thanked, and media interviews take place
…………………………………

When Did It Start?
In 1994, the Pedestrians Association organizes the first walk to school week in Great Britain.
In 1997, the Partnership for a Walkable America launches walks in Chicago and Los Angeles.
In 1998, 16,000 Canadians from 5 provinces join over 170,000 Americans from 58 United States' communities.
In 1999, Ireland joins the walk along with 44 schools from New Zealand. 10,000 schools from Great Britain take part along with 250 schools from Canada, and 525 schools from the United States.

* The Oregon Walk to School Committee was formed by Bicycle Transportation Alliance and others.
In 2000, the first ever International Walk to School Day took place on October 4th. Canada, Great Britain, United States, Ireland, Cyprus, Gibraltar and The Isle of Man participated. Over two and a half million walkers were estimated to have participated.
In 2004, 36 countries and 3 million walkers participated in International Walk to School Day on October 6, 2004, including 45 Oregon schools.
* In 2007, 12,500 children officially participated from 86 schools all over Oregon, with 2,000 adults (actual numbers may be higher, since some schools do not register).

Who Supports It?

Our Partners
The Oregon Walk + Bike to School program is led by the Oregon Walk + Bike to School Committee whose members include the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Health & Science University Think First Program, City of Portland Office of Transportation, Oregon Medical Association, American Heart Association and assorted others.

The 2008 Oregon Walk + Bike to School Day events received asssistance and incentives from ODOT's Safe Routes to School Program, ODOT's Region 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, Department of Human Services, Nutcase Helmets, Clif Bars, Planet Bike, Fred Meyer Foundation, REI and TriMet.

The most important partners include all of the schools, parents, teachers, students, and community members who are actively involved in getting kids walking and biking to school.

Thank you!

Oregon Statewide Physical Activity Plan
The Oregon Statewide Physical Activity Plan and its companion document, the Oregon Statewide Public Health Nutrition Plan, are calls to action for all who can have an impact on promoting daily physical activity and healthy eating to improve the health of Oregonians.
* Goal 1: Youth in Oregon participate in daily physical activity.
* Objective 1: Increase the percentage of trips to school that youth make by walking and biking.
* Strategy A: Expand and promote walking and biking to school by implementing designated routes, programs, and promotional events.
* Strategy B: Increase the percentage of schools with safe and accessible sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks.
* Strategy C: Promote retaining existing neighborhood schools and siting new schools in areas that facilitate walking and biking to school.

Healthy Choices 2010
Healthy Choices 2010, a report produced by The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, identifies two strategies related to Safe Routes to School.
* Children 5-15 years who live within 1 mile of school and regularly walk to school will increase from 30% in 2001 to 50% in 2010.
* Children 5-15 years who live within 2 miles of school and regularly bike to school will increase from 5% in 2001 to 12% in 2010.

Oregon House Bill 3712
Passed in 2001, this bill states that "City and County governing bodies shall work with school district personnel to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or cycling to and from school." In its current form, it is unfunded.
Subsequent to its passage, the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Department of Human Services/Health Services Division received a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a Safe Routes to School program in Oregon. Six schools, five of which were in Portland, received small grants ($2,000 each) to establish community Task Forces for the development of school plans identifying recommended walking and biking routes.

Neighborhood Traffic Safety Partnership Strategy
Portland Transportation, with the assistance of a citizen advisory committee (Safe Communities Coalition), is currently developing a Community and School Traffic Safety Partnership. The CSTSP is a community-based education, enforcement, and engineering tool designed to minimize traffic safety concerns and support safe, healthy, and efficient transportation choices. It identifies Safe Routes to School as a strategy that will help maximize the ability of our streets, sidewalks, and pathways to support a safe, multi-modal transportation system that enhances neighborhood livability.