News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman - 740-3343
Annabelle Quihuis
- 740-6410
Tucson, Arizona (September 11, 2006) - Thousands of
parents and children will be walking or biking to school on Wednesday,
October 4, 2006, to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety and
improve air quality. The Pima County and City of Tucson Departments
of Transportation, and the Pima County Department of Environmental
Quality are encouraging children, parents, guardians, and local
officials to participate in the 10th annual “International
Walk to School Day.” Walking and bicycling also improve
health, reduce obesity, and provide parents with an opportunity
to spend additional time with their children.
New this year is the “Walking School Bus Challenge.” In
conjunction with the International Walk to School Day, the Pima
County – Tucson Safe Routes to Schools program and Activate
Tucson are encouraging schools to hold a six-week long “Walking
School Bus Challenge.” A Walking School Bus is a group
of children who walk designated routes to school under adult
supervision, picking up children along the way just like a bus
does. Eight participating schools in Pima County will receive
a “Walking School Bus” package worth approximately
$2,000. Included in the package will be punch cards for participants,
t-shirts, safety vests for adults, pedometers to track miles
walked, and metals for the participants. In addition, a bicycle,
two razor scooters, an I-Pod, jump ropes, basketballs, and other
items will be provided for a prize drawing for those who fill
up their punch card by walking to school. Quantities are limited,
so interested schools should contact Donna at 205-8309 for more
information as soon as possible.
The local Walk to School Day is sponsored by the Pima County
and City of Tucson Departments of Transportation, Pima County
Environmental Quality’s Clean Air Program, and Activate
Tucson. If you would like additional information, please contact
Donna at 205-8309. Schools can register to participate or get
additional information at www.walktoschool.org.
How Children are Different in Traffic
(Excerpts
from the Partnership for a Walkable America information)
› Children don’t think about getting hurt.
› Kids
are impulsive and impatient. They are prone to dart into traffic
on a whim.
› Children have trouble
judging traffic speed, gaps in traffic, or whether a car is coming,
going, or standing still.
› Kids have a limited
ability to detect traffic in their side vision.
› Children have trouble
understanding that a car can’t
stop as quickly as they can.
› Kids are smaller than
adults, and have trouble seeing traffic and being seen by drivers.
› Children often think
that if they can see a car, then the driver sees them, even if
they are standing behind a shrub or a parked car.
Amazing Facts About Awesome Air!
_ Air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% carbon
dioxide and trace amounts of other gases.
_ On average, people take 30,000 breaths each day!
_ People breathe about 2 gallons of air every minute!
_ Tucsonans drive over 23,000,000 miles each day.
_ Every 25 miles you drive puts 1 pound of air pollution into
the air you breathe.
_ Approximately 60% of our air pollution is caused by motor
vehicle use.
_ Skip those short trips to school and back home! A cold engine
emits more pollution and reduces efficiency by 50%.
Drive Less for Healthier Air
Walk Your Children to School
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