Media

Quick facts

• Since 1997, communities around the U.S. have been celebrating Walk to School Day. Around the globe, International Walk to School Month brings together more than 40 countries in recognition of the common interest in walking to school.
• In its thirteenth year, U.S. participation reached a record high with more than 3,300 events from all fifty states and the District of Columbia registering in 2009. Many more communities held events but did not register.
• In 2006, world-wide interest led the International Walk to School Committee to establish International Walk to School Month – countries pick a day, week or use the entire month of October to promote walking to school.
• The event was established as “International” in 2000, when Canada and the UK joined with the U.S. to celebrate.
• The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997, modeled after the United Kingdom’s walk to school events.
• More than one-half of Walk to School events are part of ongoing activities to promote walking and bicycling throughout the year.
• In August 2005, federal legislation established a National Safe Routes to School Program that provided $612 million towards Safe Routes to School from 2005 to 2010.
• More than 4,500 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have been awarded federal funds for Safe Routes to School activities during the school year.

For more facts about Walk to School, check out our Talking Points.

Reasons to walk

• Physical activity
• Safety
• Community awareness
• Environmental concern
• Reducing traffic congestion, pollution and speed near schools
• Reclaiming neighborhoods
• Sharing time with community leaders, parents and children

Who's walking?

Want to know who's walking in a particular state? Use our clickable map to find out about events happening anywhere in the USA.