Walking to School Focus of Special Day

Schools in Moorpark, Simi Valley, Oxnard and Ojai joined hundreds of other schools across America on Wednesday, National Walk to School Day, to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and walk their children to school.

Organizers say the event gives parents an opportunity to teach their children safe pedestrian behavior and to accompany students to make sure they take safe routes to school.

Bike riding to school is also part of the event, because walking and biking both mean fewer cars on the road and more exercise for children, said Heidi Whitman, who has three children at Topa Topa Elementary School in Ojai, and helped organize the walk at Topa Topa.

“That has an impact on air pollution and improved physical fitness,” Whitman said.

Previously held in other parts of the country, this is the second year the event was held throughout California. Most elementary schools in Moorpark participated this year, and in Ojai organizers say they plan to expand to more schools next year.