Walking or biking to school provides many benefits to children, schools, and communities. Currently, only eleven percent of US children ages five to fourteen walk or bike to school regularly; fifty years ago, the number was nearly fifty percent. The circumstances that led to this decline developed over time and created a self-perpetuating cycle. Parents who are concerned about the safety of walking or biking choose to drive their children to school. This adds more traffic, thus sustaining the cycle and further discouraging others from walking or biking. The bottom line is that few children walk or bike to school, and the rest are missing out on the fun and numerous other benefits. Here are just some of the benefits associated with children walking or biking to school.
Children who walk or bike to school have:
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Better academic performance in terms of attention, alertness, and improved reasoning abilities
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Lower levels of stress during the day
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Better physical fitness and stronger bones
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Greater levels of physical activity throughout the day, helping them meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity
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A greater sense of independence and confidence in their ability to navigate their neighborhood safely.
Schools have:
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Fewer discipline problems because children arrive ready to learn
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Increased safety during drop-off and pick-up times because there are fewer cars.
We all have:
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A stronger sense of community connectedness because children and families build positive social relationships when they walk or bike together
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Improved air quality, especially near schools, because fewer vehicles are transporting children to and from school.
Check out these resources for more information about the variety of benefits of walking and biking for all ages.
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Benefits of walking: this article from Prevention magazine lists the 15 major benefits of walking. https://www.prevention.com/fitness/a20485587/benefits-from-walking-every-day/
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Benefits of biking: this article from Healthline magazine lists 12 benefits of bicycling, plus safety tips. https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/cycling-benefits#benefits