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Health & Fitness

Legislative Update: October 9 - Walk or Bike to School Day

Today, October 9, is International Walk or Bike to School Day. Walk or Bike to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries, and it has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October.

Physical activity is vital for good health

This is an important day, first and foremost, because it encourages better health and physical activity for our children. Regular physical activity helps children build strong bones, muscles and joints, and it decreases the risk of obesity. In contrast, insufficient physical activity can contribute to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke.

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Research suggests that physically active kids are more likely to become healthy, physically active adults, underscoring the importance of developing the habit of regular physical activity early.

Safety is key

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I have heard from many of you in Eagan who want to ensure that we have safe sidewalks, trails, street crossings and bike paths for students to walk and bike to school. That’s why this session I co-authored legislation to fund Safe Routes to School grants. Eagan has a great trail system, and I’m committed to supporting the healthy efforts of families’ that walk and bike to school.

Nationally in 2009, more than 23,000 children (ages 5 to 15) were injured and 250 killed by cars or trucks when they were struck while walking or bicycling. This represents 25 percent of all children’s traffic fatalities and 15 percent of all children’s traffic injuries. 

A wide range of Minnesota school, community, safety and health-based organizations support the establishment and funding of a Minnesota-based program.  Those organizations include the American Heart Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in Eagan, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota School Boards Association, Allina Health, American Cancer Society, Minnesota PTA, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and many others.

Statewide Health Improvement Program

I also supported the reinstatement of the Statewide Health Improvement Project (SHIP), which is a public-private partnership focused on improving health by reducing key risk factors that contribute to cancer, diabetes and heart disease. SHIP provides grants to communities to implement evidenced-based, community-level comprehensive health improvement initiatives that address poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. SHIP grantees include schools, worksites, and community and health care settings. Dakota County has been a leader in producing successful SHIP programs.

Improving health, controlling costs

These are basic steps toward turning back the increasing cases of costly preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. These simple ideas simply work and by improving overall public health we can reduce health costs and improve the quality of life in our communities.

Reducing traffic congestion, transportation costs

Beyond health, our entire community benefits when more kids walk or bike to school, including less traffic congestion. According to the 2011 National Center for Safe Routes to School report, personal vehicles taking students to school accounted for 10 to 14 percent of all personal vehicle trips made during the morning peak commute times.

The common goal of improving conditions for walking and bicycling also brings families, neighbors, school officials and community leaders together, and communities with higher rates of walking and bicycling tend to have lower crash rates for all travel modes.

Encouraging and enabling bicycle and pedestrian trips also reduces costs for families, communities and school districts. Families save on gas, communities spend less on building and maintaining roads and school districts spend less on busing. In fact, one school district calculated $237,000 in annual savings.

Finally, sidewalks, paths and other investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure can increase home values and direct additional traffic to local businesses.

The health of our community is important. These are worthwhile initiatives and efforts to improve public health and make our already great community — and communities around the state — even better places to live, work, and raise a family.

As always, feel free contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas.

Sincerely,

Laurie Halverson

State Representative

District 51B


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