Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
MALDEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new program in Malden, where parents and students walk together as a group, aims to make getting to school safer.
The program, called "Walking Wednesdays," was launched by the Malden Salemwood Teacher Organization, along with the non-profit Malden Safe Streets.
Allie Durak, president of Malden Safe Streets, helped organize the program and said she hopes to get more families to join. "It will look like a mass of children, the more that people come the better, because there is safety in groups, we want to make sure everybody feels safe as they are walking together," Durak said.
Amit, an eighth-grade student, thinks this program could make getting to school safer for himself and his classmates. "There could be cars not waiting for you, so they just kind of go, and that could be unsafe," said Amit.
Peter Piazza, a parent of two students at Salemwood, said days with heavy rain are even more important to have a program like this.
"There's less visibility for cars that are going by, and if you're in a big group that helps increase the safety of everybody," Piazza said.
"Walking Wednesdays" takes place weekly. The group is inviting and encouraging more parents and students to participate in the program.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.