Fuel Free Fridays, a new project of the Lawton Green Team, went into effect last week and is scheduled to continue for the rest of the school year.
Organizers like to call the phenomenon "walking school buses." The idea is that, from 8:30 to 8:40 Friday mornings, Lawton School staff and parent safety guides will lead student walkers along five routes in Magnolia.
There are a number of excellent reasons for the program:
■ Studies show that children who walk to school arrive more alert, eager and ready to learn.
■ Streets are safer when people are walking.
■ Cars isolate - walking helps you meet your neighbors.
■ Fewer gas-powered vehicles in use means less pollution.
■ More exercise means more healthy bodies.
The five routes are: 1) from 21st and Dravus to 24th and Emerson; 2) from 28th and Dravus to 29th and Emerson - the top of the ravine; 3) from 34th and Dravus to 30th and Ruffner; 4) from 35th and Emerson to 32nd and Elmore; and 5) from 36th and Government Way - the Discovery Park entrance - to Discovery Espresso.
The group will always cross streets together, and always at crosswalks when possible. All student walkers must stay with the parent safety guides, and listen to them.
Walkers meet at the starting point or join anywhere along the route. If you live outside these routes, you may drive your child to a route and drop off him or her there; this is still less polluting and more healthful.
All routes begin at 8:30 a.m.
For further information, call Lyon Terry, 252-2147, or e-mail lyterry@ seattleschools.org
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