Tumwater joins Walk to School Month

Tumwater is celebrating Walk to School Month this October to promote health and safety among its resident children.

During its October 17 meeting, Mayor Debbie Sullivan approved the proclamation to join the rest of the world in celebrating October Walk to School Month “to increase awareness about the health and environmental benefits of walking and biking to school.”

Tumwater also mentioned its commitment to prioritizing children’s safety by improving the city’s bicycle, pedestrian, and active transportation safety.

“The City of Tumwater is working to add bike lanes, trails, sidewalks, and improve street crossings to better connect our neighborhoods and provide safer routes to schools,” the proclamation said.

In its proclamation, the council cited various reasons to walk to school, including “improving the health of our youth;” increasing students’ readiness to learn; teaching children how to safely walk, bike, and roll; and avoiding driving students that contributes to traffic congestion and air pollution.

“I call upon the people of the City of Tumwater to promote the safety and health of children this month, and throughout the year, by supporting pedestrian, bicycle, and active transportation improvements, modeling safe pedestrian and bicycle behaviors, and practicing an active lifestyle,” said Sullivan in the proclamation.

“I invite parents, school employees, and community leaders to make a lasting impression on our community's youth by joining Tumwater students in walking to school,” the mayor added.

World celebration

Walk to School is held worldwide as a day-, week-, or month-long celebration, starting with a day-long event in five primary schools in Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom in 1995, becoming a national campaign the following year.

The campaign became a week-long celebration in 2003, supported by 33 countries, expanding to a month-long observance in October 2006.