February 1, 2024 (Moscow, Idaho) — Safe Routes to School Will hold its annual “Polar Walk” on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024. Approximately 2,000 students from nine Moscow Schools will participate, along with over 250 parents, teachers and community leaders, and over 20 University of Idaho students, staff, and faculty.
The United States has the lowest percentage of individuals who walk or bike to work and school even when conditions are ideal. The Polar Walk encourages active travel to and from school even in winter weather conditions. Safe Routes to School’s focus is to provide safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for active travel.
The event will showcase “Walking School Buses,” enabling students to walk together from designated meeting places with the assistance of volunteer supervision. The meet-up locations for the Walking School Buses are:
– West Park Elementary: Meet at the University of Idaho Rec Center
– Russell Elementary: Meet at East City Park
– McDonald Elementary: Meet at the Eggan Youth Center
– Saint Mary’s Parish School: Meet at Saint Mary’s church parking lot
– Palouse Prairie Charter School: Meet at Indian Hills Park
All Walking Buses will depart 15-20 minutes before their school’s designated start time to ensure on-time arrival. Check with your school for exact departure times, or visit the Safe Routes to School Facebook page for more information.
Participants should dress appropriately for winter weather conditions, including boots, gloves, hats, heavy winter coats, snow pants, and scarves. Recommended walking routes to individual schools, as well as Park-and-Walk locations, are available at: https://www.uidaho.edu/ed/departments/srts/resources.
All Moscow residents are asked to drive with caution in all school zones to help accommodate the high volume of children walking to school on February 7th. The Moscow Police Department will offer additional safety patrol at school sites.
The Moscow Safe Routes to School program is based in the Movement Sciences Department, College of Education at the University of Idaho. For additional information, please contact Cate Egan at 770.639.3953 or via email at [email protected].
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