Walking to School Encouraged Wednesday

More students may be seen walking to school than normal Wednesday if they are participating in International Walk to School Day.

The event, organized by the Partnership for Walkable America in 1997, encourages students to seek more active transportation to and from school on one day on Oct. 3. This includes walking or riding a bicycle, although the official National Bike to School Day is held in May.

According to the organization's website, walking to school promotes education about safe walking in a community, healty habits and cleaner air without the use of motor vehicles. If more students walked to school, the community could benefit too by lowering costs and decreasing traffic congestion.

Communities are encouraged to register their own locally organized Walk to School Day events with the organization so that information can be recorded as to how many students walked to school on that day. Local events can be registered here.