Join schools all over the county for an energizing Walk to School Day this Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. The event got its start in 1997 and has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school activities. Today, thousands of schools across America, from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico participate. This year over 50 schools will be participating in San Luis Obispo County.
The goal for Safe Routes to School, and by extension Walk to School Day, is to get more children walking and bicycling to school, improve kids’ safety, increase health and physical activity, and reduce traffic congestion and pollution around school zones. In 1969, nearly 50 percent of all children in the United States (and nearly 90 percent of those within a mile of school) walked or bicycled to school. Today, that number has plummeted to fewer than 15 percent.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 2019
TIME: Prior to each school’s opening bell (generally 7:30-9:00 AM)
LOCATIONS: Various locations throughout San Luis Obispo County, organized by school district
Special giveaways and healthy snacks are available for children at participating schools that are walking to school for Walk to School Day (WTSD). More than 50 schools across SLO County are participating this year, and 11 of those schools will have special guests in attendance. Special guests include City and County officials, County staff, SLOCOG’s Rideshare Division staff, and Bike SLO County staff – all noted below. For school-specific event details, please reach out to the contact listed. See the online list for the full list of participating schools.
Lucia Mar USD
Dana Elementary, w/ SLO County Health Department
920 W Tefft St, Nipomo, CA 93444
Contact: 805-474-3790
Grover Beach Elementary, w/ Grover Beach Council Member Desi Lance
365 S 10th St, Grover Beach, CA 93433
Contact: Lloyd Walzer, 805-474-3770, walzers1@gmail.com
Grover Heights Elementary, w/ Grover Beach Mayor Pro Tem Mariam Shah
770 N 8th St, Grover Beach, CA 93433
Contact: Mariam Shah, 805- 474-3700, mshah@grover.org
Harloe Elementary, w/ Council Member Keith Storton
901 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Contact: Nicole Shostack, 805-474-3710, nshostack@sloymca.org
Ocean View Elementary, w/ Arroyo Grande Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Barneich & Rideshare Staff
1208 Linda Dr, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Contact: Shawna Whitfield, 805-474-3730, shawna.whitfield@lmusd.org
Paso Robles JUSD
Bauer Speck Elementary, w/ Paso Robles Councilmember Maria Garcia
401 17th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Contact: Mick DeLeon, 805-769-1350, mdeleon@pasoschools.org
San Luis Coastal USD
Del Mar Elementary, w/ Rideshare Staff
501 Sequoia St, Morro Bay, CA 93442
Contact: Nicole Washburn, 805-771-1858, nclwashburn@yahoo.com
Hawthorne Elementary, w/ SLO City Council Member Andy Pease, County Supervisor Adam Hill, & Rideshare Staff
2125 Story St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Contact: Dan Kallal, 805-234-1727, dankallal@gmail.com
Pacheco Elementary, w/ SLO City Mayor Heidi Harmon
261 Cuesta Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Contact: Kim Bisheff, 805-596-4081, kimbisheff@gmail.com
San Miguel JUSD
Lillian Larsen Elementary, w/ Bike SLO County
1601 L St, San Miguel, CA 93451
Contact: Xochitl Gonzalez, 805-467-3216 x 206, xgonzalez@sanmiguelschools.org
Templeton USD
Templeton Middle School, w/ County Supervisor John Peschong
925 Old County Rd, Templeton, CA 93465
Contact: Debby Garcia, 805-434-5813, dgarcia@templetonusd.org
About San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare
SLO Regional Rideshare is the region’s one-stop-shop for all things transportation. A division of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, SLO Regional Rideshare provides programs for commuters, employers, youth, seniors and visitors. The Safe Routes to School program provides education and encouragement for active transportation among K-12 students, parents, and school staff. The initiative helps make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bicycle to and from school, while also helping reduce traffic congestion and pollution around school zones. For more information about SLO Regional Rideshare, visit rideshare.org.
About San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) is an association of local governments in the San Luis Obispo County Region. Its members include all seven cities (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo) as well as unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. The central purpose of SLOCOG is to examine common regional problems and suggest solutions. SLOCOG provides transportation planning and funding for the region, and serves as a forum for the study and resolution of regional issues. In addition to preparing the region’s long-range transportation plan, SLOCOG plans and provides funding for public transit services, highway and roadway improvements, and other alternative methods of transportation. To learn more about SLOCOG, visit www.slocog.org.
For more information, please contact SLOCOG PIO Anna Devers at (805) 781-4462 or adevers@slocog.org.