Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

October 9th is “Walk to School Day” for Los Angeles schools, the kick-off event of “International Walk to School Month,” which is designed to educate kids about pedestrian safety and celebrate the benefits of walking.

Though only nine Los Angeles schools are currently registered, organizers are hoping the event encourages parents, students, school personnel and others to experience walking to school and appreciating the benefits of physical activity. Walking to school also reduces fossil fuel consumption and alleviates traffic — even if “Walk To School Day” promotional material fails to mention it.

Event organizers say they also hope to develop valuable relationships with school administrators, parents, and community groups to build support for the city’s Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan, a plan for increasing the number of children who safely walk, bike, role or take public transit to school.

Among the event sponsors are LAUSD, Los Angeles Metro, and the LAPD. If your school is interested in participating you can register on the “Walk To School Day” website here. 

*An earlier version inadvertently used the word “conservation” instead of “consumption.”