Students embrace special day devoted to walking to school
Loma Verde Elementary School students turned out in a big way Wednesday as part of International Walk to School Day.
Between 300 and 400 students walked a quarter-mile from a local coffee shop to get to school, said Gwen Froh, program director of Marin County Safe Routes to School. About 50 elementary and middle schools from across Marin participated this year, however Froh said the turnout at Loma Verde was outstanding.
“It's not that far, but it's enough
to make a statement, all those kids and their parents walking,” Froh said. “Loma Verde hit it out of the park, we've never seen a `walking bus' with that many students before.”
Funded by the Transportation Authority of Marin, Safe Routes to School began in 2000 to reduce traffic congestion near schools, encourage healthy habits and promote climate-friendly travel.
Kelly Smith, a parent volunteer and organizer of I-Walk at Loma Verde, said the community support for the annual Walk to School event has been encouraging and empowering to see.
This year's walk was special, featuring a celebration of longtime community member and California Highway Patrol Officer Pete Danford, who is retiring after 27 years. Smith pitched Loma Verde's participation in the annual walk about seven years ago, and Danford has been helping kids safely walk to school ever since.
“Danford has been my `partner in crime' with this since the very beginning,” Smith said. “He has been such an incredible community member. He's always been so supportive of the walk events.”