It's bike safety month and schools all over northeast Wisconsin are participating in bike to school day.
Not long ago, walking or biking to school was the norm. Over the last 30 years, however, the percentage of children biking and walking to school has declined from 50 percent or more to now closer to about 15 percent.
Today, parents drive as many as 50 percent of children traveling to school. School bus trips account for an increasing share of the rest. The purpose of Bike Safety Month is to start to reverse these trends.
Bike Safety Month also serves as an opportunity to focus on the importance of physical activity, safety, air quality and building bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.
There will be bike trains and bicycle safety presentations to highlight the benefits of actively getting to school.
Bike to school day is also part of the national movement "Safe Routes to School" promoting walking and biking to school in order to improve health, safety and the environment.
The day also serves as a time to focus on the importance of physical activity, safety, air quality and building bike friendly neighborhoods.
