Walk For Safety

Some parents would probably balk at the idea of their children walking to school. The potential dangers out there seem even more threatening when the children are on foot. But for those children who are not so privileged, they might not have any other choice but to walk to school. Such are the children of Santa Ana in California.

Every day, children walk to school and back home. They traverse only a few blocks but these block are rife with potential dangers. Broken sidewalks, gang territories, debris, and more – these are the things that these children live with daily. For these children, the International Walk to School Day came as a blessing.

International Walk to School Day is an event which is aimed at making walking to school a safe activity. Their web site gives a bit of background:

In 1997, the Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago, modeled after the United Kingdom’s lead. Back then, it was simply a day to bring community leaders and children together to create awareness of the need for communities to be walkable.

By the year 2002, children, parents, teachers and community leaders in all 50 states joined nearly 3 million walkers around the world to celebrate the second annual International Walk to School Day. The reasons for walking grew just as quickly as the event itself.

Whether your concern is safer and improved streets, healthier habits, or cleaner air, Walk to School Day events are aimed at bringing forth permanent change to encourage a more walkable America — one community at a time.

Going back to the streets of Santa Ana – the community grabbed the chance to conduct their own survey. Everyone who participated took note of the status of the curbs, the safety hazards on the streets, and so on. The good thing about this is that they have solid data that they have presented to city officials, who have the power to fix things in that area and make the streets walkable for the school children. Now all that is left is the initiative from the authorities to release funds and manpower to help ensure that the kids are not exposed to avoidable risks as they make their way to getting a better life through education. I really hope that the action will be quick and decisive. Otherwise, the efforts of these children will mean nothing.

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