Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, along with Go! Bismarck Mandan, is encouraging all students to celebrate National Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 12th. The event urges students to walk and bike to school to promote safe routes and more physical activity.
Katie Johnke is Nutrition Services Coordinator for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health. She says there are great benefits of walking to and from school, such as improving behaviors and increasing concentration in students.
"This just promotes togetherness and community. It's an opportunity to connect with a parent, or sibling, or a friend if you're walking with somebody. It also makes smoother routes for traffic, as well as safer ways for those that do have to drive. There's less congestion and it's better for the environment, obviously, to reduce cars on the road. So, there's a lot of pros to encouraging walking and biking to school."