Taking to the Sidewalks

The fog and the mist couldn’t put a damper on International Walk and Bike to School Day and Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. On Wed., Oct. 4, Montclair Public Schools students observed the day by taking to the sidewalks on foot and on bike.

The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997, modeled after the United Kingdom’s walk to school events, and communities around the United States have been celebrating Walk to School Day ever since. The event was established as “International” in 2000, when Canada and the U.K. joined with the U.S. to celebrate. Communities and schools use this day as the first step to change community culture and to create options for getting around that are more inviting for everyone, both young and old. Some reasons to support walking and bicycling to school: It’s fun — walking and bicycling bring a sense of joy and independence; It encourages healthier habits — the trip to school is a chance for children (and adults) to get the physical activity they need; It promotes a cleaner environment — Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can reduce congestion and air-polluting emissions; It promotes safety and supports neighborhood connections.

Crossing Guard Appreciation Day reminds students and their families to thank crossing guards for keeping children and community members safe on their way to school.

Photos, below, capture a sampling of the day’s participants throughout the district.

Montclair crossing guards at Mount Hebron (left) and Bradford (below) pause after a busy morning keeping students safe on the streets.

Below, from left, Bradford 5th grade teacher Lou DeBello, Bradford’s Walk to School Day organizer Patsy Manning, and Bradford 5th grade teacher Mariola Koza.

Below, students at Bradford grab a healthy snack before heading into school

At right, Hillside students signed a banner when they arrived to school.

Below, braving the mist and rain, parents walk with their children to school.

"We made it!"

Below, students at Hillside secure their bikes.

Below, proud labels adorn the bikes.

Celebrating the day’s event at Renaissance.