San Antonio Express-News
Friday, April 28, 2006
An education in exercise
By Don Finley, Medical Editor

Excerpts:
As for traffic safety, Congress last year passed the $611 million Safe Routes to School act. Texas is set to receive $43 million through 2009 for sidewalks, crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements.

Robin Stallings, executive director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, which spearheaded Bike and Walk to School Day in Texas, believes that fear may be a major barrier in getting kids walking or riding to school.

"When a child gets abducted in Florida, we hear about it in Texas," Stallings said. "And it scares the heck out of us. It's any parent's nightmare. All the statistics in the world that tell you that they're more likely to be killed in an automobile crash than be abducted doesn't change that fear."

So Martin, Stallings and others suggest older kids walk or ride in groups. Parents can lead a "walking school bus" or "bicycle train," picking up other kids on the way. Or simply walk their own kids to school.

For the full article, please visit San Antonio Express-News.