Contact: Kim Curley, Community Outreach Coordinator

Commute Options for Central Oregon

Office 541-330-2647

Cell-541-408-6111

kim@commuteoptions.org<!--[endif]-->

Get active! Get fit! Get to school!

Parents-great job preparing your child for school with appropriate clothes, necessary supplies, and even the perfect backpack. But has your family thought about transportation options? Can you choose an active mode for getting to and from school?  CDC recommends that kids be physically active at least 60 minutes-healthy kids learn better!

Tune in…International Walk and Bike to School Day is October 7th.  All over the world school children and their parents will join together to walk or bike to school. Commute Options for Central Oregon is proud to be a major player in this international event that is part of a worldwide movement to encourage children to be more active. Walk and Bike to School Day is the kick-off event for Safe Routes to School programs-a record 13 Central Oregon schools will be promoting walking and biking to school throughout the 2009-2010 school year! Activities include: 

Encouragement-Incentive programs for students who walk and bike

Education-Bicycle and pedestrian safety skill building during PE/Heatlh

Engineering-Improvements in physical environment in the school neighborhood

Enforcement-Increased law enforcement of school zone speed limits

Evaluation-Collection of data to determine modes of transportation to school

Join in the fun-walk and bicycle with your young students to and from school on October 7th and beyond! Remember to follow the rules of the road and choose safe behaviors along your route. To find a safe route to school try the journey on a quiet weekend day. Explore different routes with your child, then decide on which you like best. Organize a “Walking School Bus” to encourage other students in your neighborhood to choose walking instead of driving!

Motorists-school is back in session! Keep an eye out for children walking and bicycling around schools. Slow down and be alert in school zones.

Volunteers-join the Walk and Bike movement! You can join a walking school bus any day of the week by contacting the school in your neighborhood. Walk and Bike with the students in your community. Everyone benefits.

 Safe Routes to School participating locations in Central Oregon for 2009-2010 school year:

 Bear Creek Elementary-Bend                              Cascade Middle School-Bend

Buff Elementary-Madras                                                REALMS-Bend

Elk Meadow Elementary-Bend                            Sisters Middle School-Sisters

Ensworth Elementary-Bend

High Lakes Elementary-Bend

Jewell Elementary-Bend

Juniper Elementary-Bend

Lynch Elementary-Redmond

Madras Elementary-Madras

Sisters Elementary-Sisters

Commute Options for Central Oregon is recruiting volunteers to help teach bicycle and pedestrian safety education in Bend, Madras, Redmond and Sisters for the current school year. Please contact Kim Curley at kim@commuteoptions.org or 541-408-6111 for more information.