Students in Mount Pleasant and Salem will lace up their shoes and hop on their bikes this morning as part of a community-wide effort to promote healthy habits and safer routes to school.
Henry County Public Health nurse Mandy Morin joined KILJ to talk about the upcoming “Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day,” happening today. The event will include participation from Lincoln Elementary, Van Allen Elementary, and Salem Elementary.
Morin says the event is designed to encourage physical activity while also bringing communities together.
According to statistics shared during the interview, more than 60 percent of students walked or biked to school in the mid-20th century, compared to less than 10 percent today. Morin also noted that nearly 30 percent of morning rush-hour traffic comes from parents dropping children off at school.
In Mount Pleasant, students and families participating in the event will gather at McMillan Park beginning around 7:45 a.m. Lincoln Elementary students will depart first, followed by Van Allen students. Separate walking and biking groups will travel designated routes to each school with traffic assistance available along the way. Salem Elementary participants will meet at the Salem Shelter House around 7:55 a.m. before walking together to the school.
Morin says local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and community leaders will welcome students as they arrive at school. The event is also being supported by the Mount Pleasant Community School District Wellness Committee and local PTA organizations, which are helping provide prizes for participating students.
Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution during the morning hours on Wednesday, especially near schools and along the planned walking routes. Organizers say this year’s event will serve as a trial run, and roller blades, skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes will not be permitted.