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City Will Participate in Worldwide Event this October
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 7, 2012 - Schoolchildren in Rockville will have the chance to take part in the 15th International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 3
The annual event started in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America to raise awareness of the need for walkable communities. Kids across the country and in more than 40 other countries take part.
The event has grown in popularity in Rockville in recent years, with nearly 800 kids walking to one of five participating schools last year. Walk to School Day stresses the importance of protecting the environment along with building connections with the rest of the community for both kids and parents.
Walk to School Day is part of the City's Safe Routes to School initiative, which is supported with grants. The City won grants of more than $100,000 from the federal Safe Routes to Schools initiative. Rockville values having pedestrian- and bike-friendly roads, and recently received a grant to improve the crosswalks and bike lanes near the Twinbrook and Rockville Metro stations.
In the past year, the City built about 5,000 linear feet of new sidewalk on five neighborhood streets, and improved pedestrian safety by upgrading 15 traffic signals to Accessible Pedestrian Signals, which include both countdown and audible signals. The City also installed 60 new pedestrian crossing ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
To learn more about the event and ways to participate, visit walkbiketoschool.org. To find out more about pedestrian safety in the City go to rockvillemd.gov/transportation.
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