SANDPOINT — Students, staff, parents and community leaders will put on their walking, or biking, shoes on Oct. 10 as the Lake Pend Oreille School District joins schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day.

LPOSD has participated in Walk to School Day since 2003 to raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling. According to walkbiketoschool.org, 203,000 children ages 15 and younger were injured in motor vehicles crashes in 2009; 15,000 of those injured were pedestrians. Therefore, according to the website, priority must be placed on making it possible for everyone to walk safely, especially in neighborhoods and school zones.

"I think in town we are doing a pretty good job," said Erin Billings, LPOSD Safe Routes to School coordinator, adding that the district puts out a survey in the spring and the fall for people to comment on where they would like sidewalks or where there are issues with getting to school.

The event also emphasizes the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and concern for the environment, and builds connections between families, schools, and the broader community.

"I have been reading more and more articles on increasing physical activity, because more and more kids are not getting that physical activity and it helps them arrive at school more aware, ready to learn when they get activity before school," Billings said.

Local Walk to School Day groups include Washington, Kootenai and Farmin Stidwell elementaries. The other elementary schools are going to do some sort of Walk AT School event, Billings said, walking around the playground during their physical education classes or recess.

Walk to School Day groups will begin their journey to school between 7-7:30 a.m. from designated school neighborhood locations. School buses will make special Walk to School Day drop-off stops en route to allow student bus riders the opportunity to participate. Student walkers should arrive at school no later than 7:50 a.m. Walk AT school participants are asked to walk laps around the playground before the morning bell and during recess breaks.

Families should obtain specific school detailed event information from their school office, including adult volunteer opportunities, drop off locations, permission slip requirements, and designated walking routes.

For safety, students should travel in groups with an adult or responsible older sibling and dress in brightly colored clothes. Avoid distractions, walk on sidewalks where available, make eye contact with drivers before crossing, and cross only at intersections. Motorists are advised to be aware and extra cautious of smaller pedestrians en route to school that day.

The community is invited to join one of the three Walk to School Day groups. The Washington Elementary School group will depart from the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 Highway 2, at 7:25 a.m.; the Farmin-Stidwell group will depart from the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., at 7:30 a.m.; and the Kootenai Elementary group will meet at the Brittany Loop Trailhead, north of the Kootenai School on Brittany Loop Road, departing between 7:05-7:15 a.m.

To join a walking group, RSVP with Billings at erin.billings@lposd.org or 208-263-2184 ext. 1124.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.