Walk and roll to school to promote fitness

Hundreds of students around Sonoma County opted out of getting a ride to school from mom or dad and instead walked or rode bikes to campus Wednesday as part of the annual Walk and Roll to School Day.

Students from more than 33 schools across the county took part in the annual safety awareness day staged to promote good health and reduce environmental impacts.

“I can come early and I came fast,” said Paola Diaz, a sixth-grader at Santa Rosa’s Kawana Elementary School.

Diaz rode her bike to the Morage Avenue campus for the first time Wednesday.

Students there were greeted with fruit, juice, bagels and a raffle for those who either walked or rode bikes to school. Parents who accompanied large groups of student walkers were treated to coffee and baked goods.

Physical education teacher Laurel Green has been telling parents know about the day through items in Windsor’s Brooks Elementary School newsletter and by setting up an information table at back to school night.

She also enlisted older students to rally younger kids’ enthusiasm for cycling to school.

“I put it out to them as if we need them as leaders, I put them in charge,” she said. “It’s not hard to get them involved.”

Traffic increases about 25 percent when school is in session compared with the summer months, according to city officials.

Wednesday marked the twelfth annual Walk and Roll to School Day, an international event held at schools all over the globe.