Duncan And U.S. Surgeon General Celebrate First International 'Walk Our Children To School Day' With Parents and Children

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/.walkchild.pr 00-369pr

Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
William Smith, 301-565-0788

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2000

DUNCAN AND U.S. SURGEON GENERAL CELEBRATE
FIRST INTERNATIONAL 'WALK OUR CHILDREN TO
SCHOOL DAY' WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today proclaimed October 4 as Walk Our Children to School Day in Montgomery County. He joined the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. David Satcher, and federal, state, and county officials at East Silver Spring Elementary School as they accompanied students and their parents on the way to school. The event is part of an international effort to create more walkable communities and to increase neighborhood awareness about pedestrian safety.

"For the past five years, pedestrian fatalities in the County have exceeded the number of homicides during the same time period," said Duncan. "These tragedies can and must be prevented through aggressive measures that will reduce pedestrian injuries. I am optimistic that the Montgomery County Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will develop a blueprint for action that will make our streets safer not only for children, but for all our residents."

Walk Our Children to School Day organizers hope to encourage parents to teach children about pedestrian safety and make them aware of the difficulties and dangers children face on their trip to and from school each day. The event will also promote health, physical activity and concern for the environment.

"Walk Our Children to School Day offers an opportunity for children to understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, and to learn how they can make physical activity a part of their daily lives," said Satcher. "Walking to school is a great first step, and it's significant that it has become an International Event."

Starting at the Silver Spring police station, about 350 parents and students walked two blocks to East Silver Spring Elementary School, accompanied by McGruff the Crime Dog, mounted U.S. Park Police officers, fire trucks from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and Montgomery County Police motorcycle officers. State Farm Insurance provided students with disposable cameras to photograph their event. Other sponsors include the East Silver Spring Citizens Association, East Silver Spring Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, and National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association.

East Silver Spring Elementary School was the only school in the County to participate in the 1999 walk.

"National Walk Our Children to School Day is this community's way of saying how important a safe, clean, walkable neighborhood is to us," said East Silver Spring Elementary School parent and walk organizer William Smith. "Thinking about how to make a community more walkable is the same as thinking about how to make it more livable. Since the average distance of a single car trip is less than one mile, pedestrian access should be a major part of any smart growth planning."

Also participating were Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry Weast; Del. Peter Franchot (D-Dist 20); Del. Sheila Hixson (D-Dist 20); National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr. Sue Bailey; Shape Up America President Dr. Barbara Moore; U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs Peter Basso; Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Coordinator of Physical Activity Programs Jill Adler; Maryland Deputy State Superintendent of Schools Richard Stainke; Maryland Secretary of the Governor's Office of Children, Youth and Families Bonnie Kirkland; Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Leaders Stuart Hudson; Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning Harriet Tregoning; Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Carol Garvey; Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Love; National Center for Bicycling and Walking Executive Director Bill Wilkinson; Governor's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee Member Randy Madres; One Less Car Inc. Executive Director Bob Chauncey; and President of the East Silver Spring Citizens Association Bob Colvin.

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose joined parents and children at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, Bethesda for their walk today. Other Montgomery County schools participating in this year's walk were Farmland Elementary School, North Bethesda; Bethesda Elementary School, Bethesda; Fallsmead Elementary School, Rockville; and Highland Elementary School, Wheaton.

The Partnership for a Walkable America held the first United States walk in 1997 in Chicago when Mayor Daley led local officials and school children on a walk to a local school. Since then, the event has spread nationally and internationally. In 1999, Ireland joined the walk, along with 44 schools from New Zealand, 10,000 schools from Great Britain, 250 schools from Canada and 525 schools from the United States. This year, Cyprus, Gibraltar, South Africa and Australia are coordinating walks and, according to the International Walk to School Day organization, they expect over two and a half million walkers to participate in worldwide events.

Information about the walk to school movement can be found at www.walktoschool.org.

# # #

News Releases | News