Next week, Seattle Mayor McGinn will be walking with Graham Hill Elementary school students as part of a worldwide Walk to School event – and Feet First was an important component in making this happen!
ON THE MORNING OF Wednesday, OCTOBER 5TH, MORE THAN A THOUSAND SCHOOLS across the world WILL PARTICIPATE IN an international WALK TO SCHOOL. SEATTLE’S MAYOR MIKE MCGINN WILL BE JOINING THE “WALKING BUS” AT 8:40am TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY IN THE GRAHAM HILL ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA STARTING AT 9:15am.
Posted by Megan Risley
September 28, 2011
Brian Dougherty from the Seattle Department of Transportation, Officer Tomeka Williams from the Seattle Police Department and Jen Cole, Safe Routes to School Director from Feet First will be among those joining Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn at Graham Hill Elementary. This event is being supported through a grant received by Safe Kids Coalition. Additionally, Feet First developed a walk route map and are in the process of analyzing drop-off and pick-up routes for the school. Feet First, as part of our pedestrian and walkability advocacy, also serves on a committee to oversee and direct the safe routes activities throughout Seattle.
As a member of the Safe Kids Coalition, a national organization formed to prevent accidental childhood injury, Feet First stands in support of safe walking and biking routes to school. Accidental injury is the leading cause of death in children 1-14, and, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14 worldwide. While the number of child pedestrians injured in traffic crashes is decreasing in the United States, in 2009, more than 13,000 children, ages 14 and under went to the emergency room and 244 children died from pedestrian-related injuries.
For over six years, Feet First has been active in helping schools develop safe routes for their students to walk and bike to school. Feet First has developed materials to help schools to easily put together a walk to school event. Fifty schools in Washington (and counting) have signed up for some sort of event in October. Feet First will be coordinating 16 different events with seven different schools around the area. To take part in the activities, register your school for such an event or to get more information, visit the International walk to school website.
Bringing safety to the routes our children walk to school is an imperative piece in making our communities more walkable, so register today!