Toomer Elementary Celebrates International Walk to School Day

Scores of children and parents from Toomer Elementary School in Kirkwood walked to school Wednesday morning to highlight walkability and promote pedestrian safety.

Toomer's kids joined students from other schools including, Burgess-Peterson Academy, Drew Charter School, Mary Lin and Whitefoord elementary schools in highlighting walking as part of the International Walk to School Day.

Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling.

The events also stress the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment.

For example, at the southwestern corner of Hosea L. Williams Dr. and Rogers Street, motorists traveling east on Hosea and wanting to turn right on Rogers, illegally go into the bike lane and use that as a turn lane risking accidents with other motorists and cyclists.

The overarching goal is to strengthen connections between families, schools and the broader community.