Our Kids: Obese or Run Over???
Not a choice!!

The international celebration of Walk to School Day - Wednesday, October 6 - highlights the health benefits of walking. Great idea! But what about the danger?

WalkSF Executive Director Peggy da Silva says, " It's incredible that in a city as compact and walkable as San Francisco - we still have horrid traffic jams around schools every morning and afternoon. Our society has promoted driving over walking, and our children suffer from it. Not only in increasing rates of chronic health problems, but in the dramatic danger of being run over when crossing the street."

Many parents fear that their children will be victims of traffic crashes if they walk to school. Last year, four San Francisco schoolchildren were run over by cars. In June, WalkSF teamed up with the San Francisco Police Department to teach drivers to slow down, look and stop for pedestrians.

Sgt. Mike Lawson reports that over the past three months SF Police officers have ticketed 600 motorists, at specific "crosswalk sting" operations. In addition to receiving a citation, drivers receive an educational pamphlet written by WalkSF with support from the Department of Public Health. "Drivers: the Safety of Walkers is in Your Hands" can be downloaded from the WalkSF website: www.walksf.org

On Tuesday October 5, from 7:30 to 9 am - the day before Walk to School Day -- the officers will be deployed around the city to protect kids near the following schools:

• Jefferson Elementary School - at 17th Avenue and Irving
• Sunnyside Elementary School - at Congo and Monterey
• French-American International School - at Gough and Oak
• Gateway High School - at 8th Avenue and Judah
• Visitacion Valley Middle School - at Visitacion and Schwerin
• Fairmount Elementary School -- at Randall and Arlington

Getting our kids active again is critically important as we see skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, asthma and depression. WalkSF volunteers are organizing celebrations at these schools on Walk to School Day - with thanks to the SFPD for making it safe!

WalkSF Safe Schools work is sponsored by Kids Plates:
A California Kids' Plate is a unique license plate that uses any one of four (4) symbols: a heart , a star , a hand , or plus sign . Plate sales generate funds for the prevention of child injury and abuse, and childcare health and safety programs in communities throughout California. 1-800-HEY-KIDS