National Walk & Bike to School Day events at Outer Banks schools on Wednesday

Startbucks at The Marketplace in Southern Shores was one of the rally points for the spring 2021 Walk and Bike To School Day at Kitty Hawk Elementary School. [photo courtesy KHES Facebook page]

Hundreds of people in communities across the state, including in Dare County, will come together Wednesday for the walking and bicycling event of the year by participating in National Walk and Bike to School Day.

The annual celebration encourages more families to consider getting to school on foot or bike, bringing attention to circumstances that may be getting in the way. Nearly 110 events will be held across North Carolina.

In Dare County, Walk and Bike to School events are set for all five elementary schools, Cape Hatteras, First Flight, Kitty Hawk, Manteo and Nags Head.

“Walk to School Day is an excellent way to bring together families and local leaders to show the importance of bike and pedestrian safety, especially for our children,” said Ryan Brumfield, director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division. “It’s also a chance to remind people about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”

In addition to being healthier, walking to school also may benefit students’ academic well-being more than riding to school in a vehicle. Students who get more physical activity have better academic success than those who do not, according to research the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study found that in North Carolina, students who take part in National Walk to School Day are six to eight times more likely to walk to school regularly, helping children get the physical activity they need.

For more information and a full list of participating schools in North Carolina, visit walkbiketoschool.org.