Walk to School Day called a success

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

Elementary schools in the city of Calabasas and city officials participated in the national Walk to School Day event last week as a way to reduce traffic before and after school, and to promote safety while walking school.

Walk to School Day was a great success, according to city officials, and might happen again soon.

"It was an exceptional turnout," said Jaimi Garcia in the Calabasas traffic and transportation division.

Calabasas Mayor James Bozajian participated.

"I was at Lupin Hill Elementary School," Bozajian said. "We gave out shirts, we gave out water and some knick knacks."

The event was designed to promote walking to school, safety, health and exercise, and also relieving traffic congestion, according to Bozajian.

"I think it accomplished all of those goals," Bozajian said. "I got the impression that a lot of the students were not regular walkers to school and I think this event showed them how easy it is to do."

Calabasas City Councilman Dennis Washburn also participated in Walk to School Day and agreed that it was a success.

"The best part for me was not just the numbers—several hundred children and parents walked," Washburn said. "But the neighborliness and sense of community that was manifest in people coming together to address the issue practically and symbolically. People met each other and paid their respects. And when they drive the neighborhood in the future, they will be just a little more aware and respectful of walkers, their neighbors—and I expect—the law.

"I’m proud to be part of a community like this one in Calabasas," Washburn said, "where we work to remind ourselves of the importance of caring for one another—kids, parents, staff, teachers and importantly the drivers in our neighborhoods that must keep their community safe and healthy."

The streets appeared to be less congested.

"For Chaparral Elementary School, traffic was definitely reduced," said Marcy Heider, who co-coordinated the Walk to School Day event at Chaparral. She said she didn’t notice the normal everyday chaos and last minute gridlock at the campus when parents and kids worry about tardiness.

Several school staff members said they hadn’t seen the streets so empty before, Bozajian said.

"One of them turned to me and said, ‘I wish we could do this every day,’ and I said, ‘That’s what we’re trying to do,’" Bozajian said.

The city of Calabasas is developing a traffic management plan to reduce traffic congestion on city streets. It will address the issue all year, according to Calabasas traffic and transportation manager Robert Yalda.

"Councilman (Barry) Groveman wants me to keep in mind that this will be a continuous effort," Yalda said in a previous interview. "I’ve got to try different, creative solutions for our community."

One answer for reducing traffic was promotion of Walk to School Day.

But will kids continue to walk to school? "I wish I could say more kids were walking to school, but I haven’t noticed it," Heider said. Chaparral might create a weekly event on Wednesdays that promotes walking to school, she said. Until then, the city will continue its efforts to reduce traffic.

"We’re just asking the public to give us a chance," Yalda said. "And if (something) doesn’t work, we will change it."