Linda Vista Elementary School students celebrated the International Walk to School Day on Wednesday morning.
About 600 students participated locally, in the global event that has spread to over 40 countries to encourage walking and biking to school, according to the Walk-Bike to School organization.
The event kicked off at the Linda Vista Community Center, where students experienced safety events organized by the Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) at Rady Children's Hospital.
Students walked from the community center to Montgomery Middle School at 7:45 a.m. Then, they finished their walk on Ulric Street at Linda Vista Elementary School at about 8:15 a.m., said an SRTS official.
A safety assembly followed the walk at Linda Vista Elementary School. An SRTS official said the importance of safety is emphasized by statistics that show 51 percent of the students walk or bike to school in the community.
From 2011 to 2013, there were 12 people injured near Linda Vista Elementary School, according to the Transportation Injury Mapping System.
The SRTS program seeks to help children walk or bike to school safely, without facing barriers such as poor walkways, limited adult supervision and crime.
