WALKtober to good health – October is Colorado Pedestrian Month

UPDATED FROM WEDNESDAY’S NEWS RELEASE

Corrected registration website & contact number for Melissa.

DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation is encouraging schools to participate in Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 6, to promote and practice pedestrian and road safety among classmates, families, and caregivers. 

Established in 1997, Colorado Walk to School Day is part of the International Walk to School Day program, when children from more than 40 countries walk to school on the same day. Throughout the state, more than 150 schools participate every year.

Organizers are encouraged to register their school at walkbiketoschool.org as a way of tracking participation and showing support for active, healthy, safe transportation.  Registrations also assist Colorado’s ranking among other participating states.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need and demand for streets, crosswalks, and public spaces that support walking, biking, and rolling. Across Colorado, communities are taking unique, creative approaches to WTSD, including Estes Park, which is partnering with local non-profit Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success, a family resource center. "We expect that for those who live too far to walk all the way, there will be a meet-up at the fairgrounds to walk to school from there,” says Estes Park Grant Specialist Christy Crosser. "We are all very excited about this event as we continue to promote the Safe Routes to School program."

Responding to community feedback on desired materials, CDOT is providing Walk to School stickers to interested schools and groups while supplies last. Email [email protected] with your name, physical address, and number of stickers requested as soon as possible or no later than Friday, September 10, to ensure delivery. Additional resources and ideas, including downloadable posters in English and Spanish, are available on the CDOT’s Safe Routes to School website at https://www.codot.gov/programs/bikeped/safe-routes.