This is International Walk to School Month, a chance for people in communities around the world to promote good health and environmental practices.

Below are just a few of its goals:

Encourage physical activity. I remember my walk to high school. It was a little over a mile and most of the time I enjoyed it. I was a fairly sedentary kid. Walking and skating were my main exercise, but I did enough of both that I stayed fairly fit. Today children are far more sedentary and with the high rate of obesity in children the need to encourage physical activity is more important than ever.

Raise awareness of how walkable a community is; reduce crime and take back neighborhoods. More children and parents walking to school will help us become aware of places where crosswalks and lights need to be. We can to look at our streets and pathways with the goal of ensuring the personal safely of all who walk them.

Raise concern for the environment; reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools. I became aware of this the times when I drove my own daughter to high school.  There were many drivers idling in the school driveway and on side streets waiting to take children home who could easily have walked - fuel burned and pollution created for no reason, and too many cars trying to come and go quickly with little regard for the teens walking in the vicinity.

Share valuable time with local community leaders, parents, and children. I chose to drive my child to and from school at times because I enjoyed hearing her share her thoughts and concerns regarding school and friends. I think back now and realize that not only would walking have done us both some good, but there might have been chances to get to know other parents and children better.

Related links:

Heart and Stroke Foundation: IWALK, you walk, let’s all walk to school
How to start a walking school bus