Monday, April 29, 2013
Regional Bike to School Day press release
Bicycling organizations in the Greater Washington area promote
National Bike to School Day on May 8th.
April 29, 2013.Multiple organizations in the Greater Washington area join together with schools from around the country to celebrate National Bike to School Day on May 8 2013. Thousands of students throughout the area will be riding or walking to school along with parents, teachers and community leaders.
Leaders from the Washington Area Bicycle Association, BikeArlington, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, TrailsforYouth, Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition and the Greater Washington DC Region Safe Routes to School Network, all encourage parents to leave their cars in the driveway and join their children in riding to school on May 8th.
To date over 70 schools in the Greater Washington DC region have signed up to participate in National Bike to School Day. More are expected as the day gets closer and are encouraged to register their school at www.walkbiketoschool.org.
Julie Childers, Executive Director for TrailsforYouth.Org who has been implementing SRTS programs locally for over 5 years has this to say, "It's fantastic to see such interest and involvement within the Metro DC communities for promoting biking to school. I hope that we see continued grow and more kids safely riding their bikes to school."
Bike to School Day encourages a nationwide bike-focused celebration for students in the month of May and builds on the popularity and success of International Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October.
“BikeArlington and WalkArlington have been coordinating with Arlington Public Schools and the response has been tremendous. All Arlington elementary, middle and high schools will be celebrating biking and walking to school on May 8”, says Chris Eatough of BikeArlington.
Bike to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for bicycling and walking and emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools and the broader community.
Christine Green of the Greater Washington DC Safe Routes to School Network say “National Bike to School Day is an opportunity for schools and families to learn how easy it is to make the trip to school active and safe. Students who are physically active are healthier and perform better academically. What a better way to start the day than with a bike ride even a few days a week!”
For additional information, please visit these websites or contact Christine Green at christine@saferoutespartnership.org.
Walk and Bike to School Day
National Center for Safe Routes to School
Greater Washington DC Region Safe Routes to School Network
Labels: bikearlington, greater washington regional network, prince william trails and streams coalition, trails for youth, waba
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