FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Sheryl Bradley (407) 246-2100 On-site (321)-377-4284
Brie Turek (407) 246-3106 On-site (407) 383-2073

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Schools
Celebrate Walk to School Day

International Event Promotes Health, Safety, Physical Activity
and Concern for the Environment

Orlando, FL (October 4, 2005) – 37 schools from Orlando and Orange County will join 3 million people from 36 countries across the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5, 2005.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and thousands of students from the Orange County Public School District will walk to school along with parents and teachers. “The idea is to walk to school together with a purpose – to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment,” said Mayor Dyer.

Wednesday’s event is part of recognizing International Walk to School Week (October 3-7, 2005), and will begin one hour prior to the start of school with kids, parents and community leaders walking from various points throughout their school’s attendance zone. Other special activities associated with the walk include:

· Pedestrian, bicycle, and safety belt education programs at each participating school
· Coloring and essay contests

Mayor Dyer will be among many volunteers walking with children, providing valued pedestrian and bicycle safety tips that will not only insure the safe arrival of our children at school, but will promote safe and courteous pedestrian/bicycle behaviors that will last a lifetime and may very well save a life.

Mayor Dyer will be participating in Walk to School Day at Lake Silver Elementary School from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 2401 N. Rio Grande Ave.

The City of Orlando, SAFE KIDS/Children’s Safety Village and the Orange County Community Traffic Safety team coordinate this local event. Additionally, community sponsors of Walk to School Day include:

· City of Orlando and Orlando Police Department
· Orange County Government and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office
· FedEX
· 3M

In light of the pedestrian traffic fatalities of last year, the City of Orlando and the Orange County Community Traffic Safety Team are even more dedicated to promoting and encouraging safe pedestrian and bicycle habits through this and a variety of other programs. For additional local information, please contact Sheryl Bradley at 407-246-2100 (cell/voicemail: 321-377-4284).





About International Walk to School Day

· Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create International Walk to School Day.

· Walk to School Day began as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike. Schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

· Organizations involved in this year’s event include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.


For additional information, please visit these web sites:

International Walk to School in the USA www.walktoschool.org
International Walk to School Week www.iwalktoschool.org
Partnership for a Walkable America www.walkableamerica.org
Orange County Community Traffic Safety Team www.ctst.info
 

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