Environmental Impact

Motor vehicle use is now generally recognized as the source of more air pollution than any other single human activity. (New State of the Earth Atlas, 1995)

85% of children's trips to school are made by car or bus. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)


Pedestrian Impact

46% of traffic crashes involving kids as pedestrians occur when a child darts out into the street. (NHTSA)

50% of children hit by cars near schools are hit by parents of other students. (Washington State D.O.T.)

Thirty years ago over 66% of America’s children walked to school. Today, only 13% of America’s children walk or bike to school. (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Odense, Demark created a network of traffic-free foot and bike paths, established slow-speed areas, narrowed roads and installed traffic islands. Accidents fell by 85%. Twenty percent of all journeys in Denmark are now made by bike compared to 3% in Britain and 1% in the U.S. (Dept. of Environment and Transport Regions, London, England, UK)


Physical Activity and Health

Michigan is consistently ranked among the worst 10 states for the percentage of overweight/obese adults in the U.S. (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The percentage of overweight children and adolescents has tripled in the last three decades. (National Center for Health Statistics)

25% of Michigan high school students are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. (Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1999)

Seventeen percent of American children are watching television more than five hours each day. These youth are 8.3 times more likely to be overweight than children who watch television for two hours or less. (Kaiser Family Foundation Report, 1999)

Children who are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight are more likely to have heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and are at greater risk for developing Type II diabetes, a serious condition that was seldom see in youth before the increase in number of overweight children. (Pediatrics, 103(6), 1175-1182; Journal of Pediatrics, 136(5), 664-672; Diabetes Care, 23(5), 381-389)


Physical activity during childhood:

• Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Helps control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce fat.
• Prevents or delays the development of high blood pressure.
• Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and is related to higher levels of self esteem. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)