[Press Release] : Nationally-recognized Walking School Bus starts up Sept. 15

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2008

CONTACT: Margy Tonnies
Safe Routes to School Coordinator, PedNet Coalition
(573) 239-9902
margy at pednet.org  
or
Ian Thomas
Executive Director, PedNet Coalition
(573) 239-7916
ian at pednet.org 

Nationally-recognized Walking School Bus starts up Sept. 15	
							
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - Columbia’s Walking School Bus (WSB) will
begin its fall program on Monday, Sept. 15, under a national spotlight
from Newsweek magazine.  Participating schools include Grant, Russell,
Ridgeway, West Boulevard, Fairview, Lee, Blue Ridge, Derby Ridge and
Parkade elementary schools. Registration has tripled this fall over last
year’s numbers and 120 new volunteers have taken the WSB Leader
training this week.
	Additionally, this will be the kickoff of an innovative program
at West Boulevard Elementary School, under which cars and school busses
drop off school children at a remote location across Again Street Park.
The remote drop-off helps to reduce traffic congestion around the school
and allows children to get a short walk, under the supervision of
trained WSB Leaders, prior to starting their day.
	The WSB program provides a safe, consistent system in which
children can walk under the supervision of adults; helps the environment
by reducing gas usage, pollution and congestion around schools; and
introduces both children and adults to an important and easy form of
activity. Walking to school is an easy way for children (and adults) to
get the 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the
risk of chronic disease.  
	It is not too late for children to sign up for the WSB program.
Parents may contact Margy Tonnies, Safe Routes to School coordinator, at
margy at pednet.org or (573) 239-9902 to receive a registration form.   
	Columbia’s Walking School Bus program was developed as part of
the Active Living by Design (ALbD) project of the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation (RWJF).  Columbia’s ALbD partnership is led by the PedNet
Coalition in collaboration with the Columbia/Boone County Health
Department, Columbia Public Schools and others. The Columbia WSB program
has been most recently funded by GetAbout Columbia.

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