By Arriana Patraw
Community Health Improvement Coordinator
The start of the school year is fast approaching for kids across northern New York — a perfect time to raise awareness about the many benefits of walking, biking and rolling to school.
Why is walking, biking and rolling to school so important? According to the national Safe Routes to School initiative, kids who walk one mile to school and one mile home reach 2/3rds of their daily recommended physical activity for the day. Combined with exercise during the school day or after-school sports, this simple daily routine can help kids meet or exceed the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
The benefits of walking to school extend beyond physical health — there is a well-established link between health and academic performance. Safe Routes to School, citing a study by the Journal of Neuroscience, notes that physical activity prior to the start of the school day helps students arrive ready to learn. In fact, research found that 20 minutes of walking led to students responding to test questions more accurately — the study also noted that children finished learning tasks more effectively after even mild physical activity.
These studies underscore the importance of walking and biking to and from school from a physical and mental perspective. There are also benefits that are harder to quantify, but just as important. Walking to school can help foster a sense of responsibility and independence among older students; research has even shown that school attendance improves and tardiness decreases. Plus, at the end of the day, being outside and active is fun, plain and simple.
The Heart Network’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program, which is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health, works with schools and communities in Franklin County to promote pedestrian infrastructure that lets people of all ages walk and bike to destinations safely. With the school year about to begin, The Heart Network is promoting participation in the upcoming national Walk & Roll to School Day event. Communities across the country and thousands of schools will participate; if your school or community wants to organize a local event, The Heart Network can help plan and promote. Visit walkbiketoschool.org to learn more.
Additionally, thanks to a partnership between The Heart Network and the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, kids in Franklin County can get free bike helmets. Earlier this summer, our CHSC program supported the county’s purchase of helmets, which are distributed to families at two community events: Child and Youth Day at the Brushton-Moira American Legion in April and Shirley’s Family Fun Day at the Malone Middle School in October. Families can also request helmets anytime by reaching out to Traffic Safety Board Chair Scott Premo at spremo@franklincony.org.
This fall, we hope students and families take advantage of the nice weather while it lasts and embrace the benefits of walking, biking and rolling to school.
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