April 18, 2003, #8

Let's Walk & Roll

From the Kid's Point of View

A number of Alameda elementary and middle school students were recently asked how they get to school and what they like about it.

Many elementary school students like to walk in a “Walking School Bus.” Like a carpool, this is a group that walks together with parents as chaperones, they meet at a specific time and location and continue on together. One child we spoke to was being driven to school when she saw her friend walking; she asked her parent to stop the car and got out. She has been walking to school ever since.

One parent commented, “If it were not for the Walking School Bus, I would have to drive my daughter to school on my way to work, and walking is much healthier.”

Kids don’t feel safe walking alone if they have to cross busy streets “because cars go too fast and don’t stop.” They feel safer with and like the crossing guards.

“Walking to school helps me to wake up and I have more time to talk to my dad,” said Henry.

Katie, 7 years old, walks half a mile to and from school every day. She likes walking because she can play and talk with her mom and friends. Parents can learn a great deal about their children from spontaneous conversation while walking.

Katie exemplifies the health benefits of walking. She recently went cross-country skiing with a group and though mom was doubtful that Katie would make it the entire way, she skied the entire four-mile route. Her parents are convinced that she could never have done that without the exercise she gets from walking to school every day.

Middle schoolers like to walk and ride in groups. Cars worry them as “they turn in front of you when you are crossing the street.” They see cars rolling through stop signs and that is scary when they are trying to cross.

James and Pierre like bicycling to school but “drivers making left hand turns scare me because I am not sure they see me.” Many middle schoolers would like to ride their bikes more and not just to school but there is “nowhere to put our bikes and we can’t take them into stores.”

Parents also expressed support for walking/bicycling to school. Their greatest apprehension is traffic, particularly around the schools. “Drivers just don’t pay attention, are too much in a rush, and allow and encourage their children to do dangerous things, such as running across the street between parked cars”, said one parent. Traffic is a problem at many schools. “It’s like a mini airport at my school,” said Jesse.

Tips for kids: Look both ways more than once, make eye contact with drivers. If one car stops for you to cross, make sure another one doesn’t go rushing by. Try to use lighted intersections, wear bright caps and jackets so drivers can see you.

Tips for Parents: Drive slowly. Let children out in the drop off zone only , or park your vehicle a block or two away and walk with your child. Don’t block the sidewalk.

Exercise is a must in developing strong healthy children. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are on the rise with today’s youth and fitness levels decline the older they get. The California Center for Public Health Advocacy issued a report recently on the fitness of youth. Among other findings in the study:

• Boys are fatter than girls
• Ninth graders are more likely to be unfit than fifth graders
• Overall, children’s fitness level decreases as they age

To offset these problems, the CDC has set a goal of 50 percent of children living within a mile of school to walk or bike daily. As a parent said, “We have to make the decision that it is important to us and to our children to get more exercise.”

Jeff Swatman is the Alameda Police Department Traffic Sergeant. If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle safety, please call him at 748-4508 extension 3342. John Knox White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org) and BikeAlameda (www.bikealameda.org).

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