Walk to School Day 2009: Another Record-breaking Year

Safe Routes Matters: 
September/October 2009

A record number of communities from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in Walk to School Day 2009. As of Oct. 28, a total of 3,369 Walk to School Day events registered through the National Center's Web site — that represents an increase of 481 events (17 percent) over last year! And we know even more events were held than is reflected by this number. Walk to School Day continues to grow in popularity each year because of community members' commitment to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school.

Essex (Iowa) Community School students braved the cold and the rain to participate in 2009 Walk to School Day celebrations.

Local events received great media coverage around the country this year. In fact, over 375 stories have been written online and in print on "Walk to School Day" specifically since Oct. 1, 2009. (Over 24,000 stories cover walking to school in general in that same time period!)

Important local, regional and national officials also joined in local Walk to School Day celebrations nationwide and helped create even more interest and excitement surrounding scheduled events. For example:

Joe Toole with students

Jack Markell with students

Anthony Brown with students
  • Joseph S. Toole, Associate Administrator, Office of Safety, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Rebecca Crowe, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program Manager, FHWA, walked to school with a group of George Mason Elementary students in Alexandria, Va., as part of a walking school bus and helped present raffle tickets and stickers to students who walked or rode their bicycles to school.
    Local media coverage in the Alexandria Times.
  • Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell served as a crossing guard for walking students at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Milford, Del., and presented a Walk to School Week proclamation to the Assistant Principal.
    Local media coverage on WGMD-TV
  • Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown (right) and Montgomery County (MD) County Executive Isaiah Leggit joined Principal Lisa Seymour and Bethesda Elementary School students at an outdoor Walk to School Day celebration. The event was co-sponsored by SafeKids.

Need ideas or tips on how to work with the media in your area? Go to the Media toolkit section on the Resources page of the Walk to School Web site.