Transit Agencies to Launch "Walk and Roll" Program July 11

WHAT:

Caltrain and its connecting transit agencies will kick off a five-week program called Walk and Roll. Its purpose is to document the potential connection between fitness and public transit for people who walk to or from train stations or bus stops by showcasing “roll models” who do this every work day.

Forty-four riders have been given pedometers and will be asked to log their steps. The goal is to see how much walking to or from transit helps them toward accumulating 10,000 steps per day, a goal that is widely promoted as a measure of moderate physical activity.

WHEN:

The kickoff event begins at 10 a.m., Monday, July 11.

The Walk and Rollers will log their steps on work days for 20 days, starting Monday, through Aug. 12. On five of the 20 days, they will forgo the “walking” part of their transit trip to come up with a comparison. Results will be tallied and made public later this summer.

WHERE:

San Carlos Caltrain Station, at El Camino Real and San Carlos Avenue.

WHO: Speakers will include:
Mike Nevin, Caltrain board chairman
Jerry Hill, SamTrans board chairman
Dr. Tony Russo, Sequoia Hospital staff physician

Some of the Walk and Rollers will also be present for the event, which will include an informational health and transit fair.

WHY:

Many of us want to get in more exercise, but finding the time to work out can be half the battle. The Walk and Roll program highlights the opportunity that exists within the commute itself for thousands of people who live within a walkable distance of bus routes or light rail and train stations to get in the simplest and most accessible form of exercise – walking. With other health care and transit partners, Caltrain, SamTrans, Muni and VTA want to educate people that taking transit can be a first step to fitness.

7/8/05