Students attending more than 4,500 schools across the nation hoofed it or pedaled to class on Wednesday to celebrate National Walk to School Day.
The first National Walk to School Day was held in 1997 and sponsored by the National Partnership for a Walkable America, with the event going international in 2000. According to walkbiketoschool.org, more than 40 countries worldwide celebrate walking to school every October.
The fifth annual National Bike to School Day was held on May 10.
The programs tout physical exercise for students and being good for the environment by limiting traffic congestion near schools and harmful vehicle pollutants. However, the federal government says riding a school bus is the safest way for students to get to and from school.
In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that all pedestrian fatalities in 2015 increased by 9.5 percent and pedal-cyclist fatalities grew by 12.2 percent, combining for “a level not seen in 20 years.” At the same time, the feds reported that 16 students die on average each year in incidents involving the school bus. Roughly four are killed each year inside the bus during crashes and 12 are killed at school bus stops, either after being struck by the school bus or a motorist who illegally passes the school bus.
According to the National Safety Council, the national school bus accident rate is 0.01 per 100 million miles traveled, compared to 0.04 for trains, 0.06 for commercial aviation and 0.96 for other passenger vehicles. About 25 million students ride approximately 500,000 school bus each day, one way.
