Ward 5 News

VICE MAYOR RICHARD FIMBRES TO JOIN LOS AMIGOS TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY STUDENTS TO KICK-OFF WALK-TO-SCHOOL INITIATIVE

Tucson, AZ (September 13, 2018) – Friday, September 14th marks the fourth year that students, teachers, and parents from Los Amigos Technology Academy will be participating in Walk ‘N Roll Fridays, where organized groups walk and bike to school together. This on-going initiative sponsored in part by Safe Routes to School (SRTS), a program of Living Streets Alliance in partnership with the City of Tucson is one way that Los Amigos’ school community is making active travel an accessible option for students and their families.

Los Amigos Tech Academy begins Walk ‘N Roll Fridays early in the school year so that students and families are encouraged to start healthy habits from the get-go, and they continue every Friday throughout the year. Walk ‘N Roll Fridays to school has anywhere from 90-200 students, parents, and teachers walking, scooting, and biking to school together on a given Friday. Lack of safe walking and biking infrastructure and disconnected pathways make active travel nearly impossible as a daily option, however, Walk ‘N Roll Fridays creates an opportunity students otherwise do not with the help of teachers and parents. With visible groups of walkers and bikers taking to streets like Drexel Road, their sizeable presence helps to signal to drivers to slow down. Yet, with the only route to school having discontinuous sidewalk, high traffic volume and speeds, and a barren dirt shoulder, the school community has expressed the need to “complete” the street with amenities like sidewalks, shade trees, buffered bikeways as a way to make walking, biking, and even using transit a safer and more comfortable option for families to use every day.

For their Walk ‘N Roll Kick-Off this Friday, September 14th, the school is pleased to have special guest Councilman Richard Fimbres to accompany walkers and celebrate their commitment to create a healthier community together. Tucson Police Department will be present to support students on their journey to school. Los Amigos staff, students, and families will assemble at the parking lot of Walmart (2565 E Commerce Center Pl.) starting at 7:30 AM. Five different “Walking School Bus” routes, including one “Bicycle Train” (groups of school children walking and biking together with grown-up leaders) will meet up at Walmart to greet special guest walkers and lead the way to Los Amigos.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to bike and walk to school. On average, students can get one-fourth of their recommended daily physical activity simply by walking to school. Studies show that children who walk or bike to school arrive more alert and ready to learn. SRTS programs also reduce traffic congestion and pollution around schools, improve safety in school zones, and provide families and friends with opportunities to share time with each other and build connections within their community.

In 2014, Living Streets Alliance (LSA) kicked off the SRTS Program in partnership with the City of Tucson, to encourage more area children and families to walk and bike throughout the Tucson region. For more information, visit http://www.saferoutestucson.org

The mission of Living Streets Alliance is to “advocate for a thriving Tucson by creating great streets for all of us.” LSA is improving access to active modes of transportation in the region through outreach, education, advocacy and research. They were awarded the title of “Advocacy Organization of the Year” in March 2016 by the national Alliance for Biking & Walking. For more information, visit http://www.livingstreetsalliance.org