October was the month for little peds. It started during the first week of October with International Walk to School Day and ended on Halloween.
More than 50 elementary schools in Orange and Osceola County participated in International Walk to School Day where hundreds of kids laced up their shoes instead of languishing in the carpool lines.
Bike/Walk Central Florida joined the movement along with Orange County, the City of Orlando, Orlando Health, MetroPlan Orlando and the Florida Department of Transportation. At Sadler Elementary School, Orange County Commissioner Victoria Siplin sported her walking shoes. She was spotted working a crosswalk to ensure all of our little walkers arrived safely at school.
Adriana Patel, Trauma Injury Prevention Clinical Coordinator of Orlando Health, reminded everyone that walking is a great way to get exercise and get the brain active in the morning. Her reminder came in a gift of bracelets and stickers for every student at Sadler Elementary who walked to school.
Speaking of benefits, besides active bodies and brains, forgoing four wheels for two feet helps reduce traffic congestion and helps the environment. Plus, little and big pedestrians grinning from ear to ear with their “Walk to School” signs are enough to brighten anyone’s day. When a community gets together in support of a healthy and positive cause, the enthusiasm is contagious.
The good news is that we can make every day a “Walk to School Day.” Talk to your school about starting a Walking School Bus (like the one recently launched at Audubon Park Elementary) to keep the group fun going all year long. Let’s get more of our kids to start their day on the right foot.
You can check out some great photos from the event by visiting our Flickr page.
