NEW ORLEANS -- The City of New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) and Bike Easy announce 2019 Walk & Roll to School Week, which will be held Nov. 18-22, 2019. This week encourages students to try new modes of active transportation when they travel to and from school. The initiative encourages schools and families to participate in Walk & Roll to School Week by including walking and rolling (bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.) into their daily commute.

 

Schools are invited to participate in this year’s Walk & Roll to School Week by organizing activities before or after school for students, as well as by integrating lessons surrounding the benefits, possibilities, and importance of active transportation within lesson plans. NOHD’s Safe Routes to School program will offer activities for schools to present, though schools are encouraged to create their own activities that capture the spirit of the week.

 

2019 Walk & Roll to School Week’s goal is to educate New Orleans students on how their choice in transportation affects their community, their health and the environment. Encouraging students to practice active transportation, paired with lessons and conversations about the many lasting benefits associated with walking and rolling, will foster a data-based practicum for students to build on as they get more modal independence — regardless of their current age.

 

“We know that children who walk or bike to school are three times more likely to get vigorous physical activity during their trip to school then they will at recess,” said Health Director, Dr. Jennifer Avegno. “It is important to teach our children from a young age that physical activity is important and that it can be easily incorporated into their day through walking and biking as a means of transportation.”

 

Please join the New Orleans Health Department in celebrating this year’s Walk & Roll to School Week by incorporating active transportation into your regular commute. Take a moment to map out a bicycle route to a common destination. Park a little farther away to squeeze in a 10-minute walk. There are many great ways to begin thinking about how active transportation can fit into one’s life without major lifestyle change. Motorists are asked to pay close attention to students and families that may be walking or rolling to school to keep everyone safe on our roads and sidewalks.

 

A full description of the New Orleans Health Department’s Safe Routes to School program and more details about Walk and Roll to School can be found here: https://www.nola.gov/health-department/safe-routes/.Be sure to follow New OrleansHealth Department’s Facebook and Instagram pages to stay updated on event plans and announcements.