Oct 8, 2008 6:02 pm US/Eastern
Kids Walk To School To Help Environment
NEWTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
WBZ's Mish Michaels laced up her sneakers, grabbed her backpack and joined the half-mile trek.
WBZ
Kids' feet are the only wheels you'll find on the walking school bus that took shape in Newton on Wednesday.
Parent and walking coordinator Alicia Bowman is the so-called driver – getting the group of Mason Rice Elementary kids to school safely.
WBZ's Mish Michaels laced up her sneakers, grabbed her backpack and joined the half-mile trek.
The "walking bus" is part of a state-wide initiative to promote exercise and raise awareness about the environment. It was inspired by
International Walk to School Day.
"So this is a city-wide program?" asked Mish.
"It is, it is," responded Kay Carson of MassRides. "Really what we are looking to do is to get the kids that live within a mile of the school -- and in Newton, 85 percent of kids living within a mile of the school."
Right now, the majority of those students are being driven by parents. "I estimate there are at least 3,000 cars on the road in Newton driving the kids just to the elementary school… every morning," said one woman who joined the walk to school.
All those people driving to school means that parents are guzzling up some 31,000 gallons of gas a year and increasing traffic by as much as twenty-five percent. "If 50 percent of the kids who go to the elementary school walked instead of drove everyday, we would be able to reduce by 39 tons the carbon emissions in the area," said Carson.
And studies have shown that by walking, air quality around the school also improves. "It would make a much cleaner and more productive environment for education," said Bowman.
And it seems the kids enjoyed the morning stroll. "Better than going in the car," one student said. "Because we get to see friends and get exercise, so when we go into school, we are kinda woken up."
"We love walking to school," said Olivia Mathews of Newton. "It just gets us up and out and you get to really experience the changes in the weather."
Once the walk to school is all set, coordinators in Newton hope to do the same for the return trip home – effectively doubling the environmental benefits.
Other towns, including Stoneham, Brockton and Watertown have hired walking coordinators too. According to research, other benefits of walking to school include exercise, a sense of independence and a safer community with fewer cars on the road.
Of course, the weather can be a challenge, but the motto is: There's no bad weather, just bad clothing.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
