IDOT Celebrates Illinois Students for "Making Strides" on International Walk to School Day

SPRINGFIELD - To support a healthy lifestyle for children and promote green transportation practices, the Illinois Department of Transportation worked with schools across the state to encourage participation in today’s International Walk to School Day. Governor Pat Quinn also proclaimed October 8, 2014 as “Walk to School Day” in Illinois to encourage everyone to consider the safety and health of children today and every day.

More than 150 Illinois schools are participating in the annual event. International Walk to School Day provides an opportunity for schools to ensure kids can safely walk to school. The event also encourages students to improve their own health and the health of the environment by walking to school instead of traveling by private vehicles, which contributes to traffic congestion and air pollution.

International Walk to School Day originated in Chicago in 1997 as National Walk Our Children to School Day. The intent of the original walk to school day was to create community awareness about making it safe for children to walk to school.

The first International Walk to School Day was 2000 when the United Kingdom and Canada joined the United States in participation. The 2013 International Walk to School Day participation reached record levels with 4,467 events in the United States. Illinois had 167 communities participate last year. International Walk to School Month brings together more than 40 countries in recognition of the common interest in walking to school.

For more information about International Walk to School Day, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org.
For a list of schools that have registered to participate in today’s initiative, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/go/whos-walking/2014.