4 Key Media Messages
- Why Walk + Bike to School Day is important -
1. To enhance the health of kids
About 25% of Oregon youth are overweight or obese. Walking or biking to and from school is an excellent way to add physical activity into the day. Kids need at least sixty minutes of physical activity every day to keep them healthy – and many kids in Oregon just don’t get enough! Walking and biking to school can help improve strength and endurance, decrease anxiety and stress, and help maintain weight. Positive experiences like walking and biking to school will pave the way for being physically active throughout life.
2. To improve the health of the community.
Walking and biking to school reduces traffic pollution and congestion.
It can also encourage parents to walk and bike to school with their
kids.
3. To create permanent, safe walking and biking routes.
Well-maintained routes designed for walking and biking calms traffic and reduces collisions. Walking and biking to school helps create driver awareness in school zones.
4.To improve neighborhood livability
Studies show that more people walking and biking in a neighborhood makes
people feel better about their neighborhood. It helps make public streets
lively and friendly, encourages community interaction, and attracts
people to commercial and recreational areas.
