September 1, 2009 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host a Safe Routes to School (SR2S) event for third grade students from Kempton, Stone, Herig, and Jerome elementary schools in Saginaw. The "back to school" event takes place on the Arthur Hill High School field on Thursday, Sept. 24.
The event is sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Accenture (a global management consulting company), Consumers Energy, Spicer Group, and the East Michigan Council of Governments. MDOT and its event sponsors will host the event in partnership with a host of area organizations, including: the Saginaw Community Foundation, Saginaw County, city of Saginaw, St. Mary's Medical Center, Field Neurosciences Institute of Saginaw, YMCA of Saginaw, and the Michigan Department of Community Health (Safe Kids Michigan).
"Our focus is on improving pedestrian safety, while encouraging walking and biking to school," said MDOT Assistant Planner Jay Reithel - the event planner. "When routes are safe, walking and biking to and from school is an easy way to get the regular physical activity children need for good health."
MDOT also hopes to inspire parent confidence through the SR2S program. The event will highlight and offer solutions for issues that create barriers to students walking and biking to school.
Presentations will include the following: Pedestrian Safety, Safe Kids Michigan and members of the Saginaw Valley Traffic Safety Committee will inform students about pedestrian signals, signs and crosswalks, along with other traffic safety issues; Encountering Stray Animals, this presentation by the Saginaw County Animal Care Center will teach students what to do when encountering stray animals on their way to school; Dealing with Down Electrical Wires, a Consumers Energy-led discussion, focusing on what students should do; Stranger Danger, local law enforcement will train students how to handle encounters with strangers on their walk to school; Walk-able Saginaw, will feature a display of city of Saginaw attractions within walking distance of local schools; Physical Fitness and Recreation, an interactive activity led by the YMCA of Saginaw; Fire Safety, will provide a simulated "safe house" experience for students, led by city of Saginaw firefighters; Bicycle Safety, including a bicycle helmet giveaway by the East Michigan Council of Governments, St. Mary's Medical Center, and Field Neurosciences Institute of Saginaw, and Saginaw County 911, a presentation by Saginaw County first responders.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to have Accenture and Dow volunteers come together to contribute to the readiness and safety of local students as they prepare to return to school," said David Dupre, vice president and site leader of Dow's Michigan Operations. "We hope the lessons learned during this event will become everyday habits for the students involved."
SR2S is an international movement - and now a federal program - to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school. SR2S initiatives also help ease traffic jams, air pollution, and unite neighborhoods.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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