SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 41

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5253L.01I

AN ACT

Relating to the designation of Missouri walk and bicycle to school month and day.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Whereas, the health and safety of our children is of highest concern to the citizens of Missouri; and

            Whereas, promoting safe and healthful walking and bicycling to school is of importance to Missouri parents and teachers, and has been shown to improve student's health and academic performance; and

            Whereas, a lack of physical activity plays a leading role in rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems among children. Being able to walk or bicycle to school offers an opportunity to build healthful physical activity into a child's daily routine; and

            Whereas, an important role for parents and caregivers is to teach children about pedestrian safety and become aware of the difficulties and dangers that children face on their trip to school each day and the health and environmental risks related to physical inactivity and air pollution; and

            Whereas, the number of children walking and bicycling to school has decreased dramatically in recent years, with less than 10% walking of bicycling to school now compared with 50% just 30 years ago; and

            Whereas, serious injury and death of hundreds of children nationwide could be saved each year if communities take steps to make bicycle and pedestrian safety a priority; and

            Whereas, the Safe Routes to Schools program is recognized nationally and internationally as being effective in solving these problems and has been successfully piloted in several Missouri communities; and

            Whereas, local Safe Routes to Schools efforts combining engineering, enforcement, encouragement, and education have been shown to improve school children's health, mobility, safety, and academic performance; and

             Whereas, "International Walk to School Month" in October and "International Walk to School Day" the first Wednesday in October have proven to be helpful in creating and promoting local Safe Route to Schools programs across the United States and throughout the world:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby commends and encourages the Safe Routes to Schools program overseen at the state level by the Missouri Department of Transportation and on the local level by many individuals, agencies, and schools; and

            Be it further resolved that the creation of and participation in the local Safe Routes to Schools programs in communities throughout Missouri be encouraged; and

            Be it further resolved that the needed cooperation and partnership among students, parents, teachers, parent-teacher groups, community leaders, community groups, public works departments, law enforcement agencies, school districts, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and other departments and agencies of state and local government to create successful Safe Routes to Schools programs be commended and encouraged; and

            Be it further resolved that October 2006 is hereby declared to be "Missouri Walk and Bicycle to School Week" and October 4, 2006, is hereby declared to be "Missouri Walk and Bicycle to School Day" in Missouri; and

            Be it further resolved that this resolution be sent to the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.