Students beat feet

Marisa O’Neil

In notoriously car-crazy Southern California, getting people to hoof

it sometimes takes a little extra incentive.

So, for Tuesday’s “Walk to School Day” at College Park Elementary

School, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District health and nutrition

services office offered stickers, fanfare and free breakfast to

students who took the shoe-leather express to class.

Some students, like 8-year-old Andres Ciambotti, still weren’t

sold on it even though his mother took advantage of the event to walk

him to school.

“I’m telling him we need to walk more,” Natacha Ciambotti said,

eliciting a nose scrunch and head shake from Andres. “But it’s hard.

They’re so used to the car.”

In fact, the three-block hike tuckered out Andres’ 2-year-old

sister Gabriela so much, she hitched a ride atop her little brother

Francisco’s stroller.

Those who did walk to school -- and even those who didn’t -- were

welcomed by Costa Mesa Police motor officers, a fire truck and

council members Libby Cowan and Mike Scheafer. Each walker and parent

got a sticker declaring that he or she had ambled to school, and the

council members presented a Walk to School Day proclamation to the

school.

The event is part of International Walk to School Week, an annual

campaign to encourage fitness and safety. Mariners and Sonora

elementary schools are holding similar events today.

“We want to have healthy kids, reduce air pollution and make

people aware that kids are out on the streets at this time of the

day,” Costa Mesa recreation manager Jana Ransom said.

To that end, motor officers kept a watchful eye on the crosswalks,

and a mobile radar truck notified passing motorists of their speeds.

More than half of the school’s students take the bus, and about

one-quarter get rides from their parents on a regular day, College

Park Principal Pat Insley said.

While some were still chauffeured to class by Mom or Dad on

Tuesday, other parents made a point of walking their children to

school. Tim Bodenhamer and his 3-year-old son Torsten walked

5-year-old Hannah Bodenhamer to school.

“We had to do it,” Tim Bodenhamer said. “We live pretty close, so

it’s not too hard. It’s nice to spend a little extra family time

together.”

At the end of the week, parents and students will turn in

“walkability” checklists, detailing any problems with crosswalks,

traffic, sidewalks or any other walking hazards. The city will use

that information to make improvements where necessary, Ransom said.

If it were up to Torsten Bodenhamer, that would include some bug

patrols. The only drawback to walking is the occasional creepy spider

he spots on the way to school, he said.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].