PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Elementary and middle school students in the east are taking themselves to school Wednesday morning.

Students at A. G. Cox and W. H. Robinson will participate in ECU Health’s celebration of walk and bike to school day.

Students will walk or ride their bicycles to school to promote healthier habits among young people.

One of the goals today is to get more students to wear their helmets while biking.

Less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet, even though properly fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent, according to Safe Kids, a non-profit.

The walk and bike ride event takes place at 6:50 a.m. this morning at the entrance to Hillcrest Park along Hillcrest Avenue and at 7:20 a.m. at the southern end of Winterville Recreation Park along Division Street.