More than 400 parents have responded to a survey conducted by Elmhurst School District 205 to learn about the need for sidewalks in Elmhurst, and what may keeping children from walking or biking to school.

The survey asked questions such as whether there are physical barriers that keep children from walking to school and whether children have too much to do after school that prevents them from walking or biking.

The survey is part of an effort seeking a $100,000 grant to improve safety for children walking or biking to school. A survey is required by the National Safe Routes to School program that would supply the grant.

The center seeks to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to walk or bike the school.

Parent Karen Stezowski, who has been working on promoting walking and biking to school, said the survey is a step in the grant process.

“It’s being done to say ‘This is our starting point’ and next year we can say ‘here’s what we did to improve our numbers’ (of children walking or biking to school),” she said.

The grant could be used for such things as educational programs and for providing bike racks at the district’s 12 schools. Stezowski said bike racks cost about $4,000 each.

The Edison Elementary School PTA will begin Walk to School Wednesdays this week. The event will feature six walking buses, in which children join others to walk in groups that are supervised by a parent or volunteer. Every Wednesday until the end of school will be a walk or roll to school day.

“We want to promote walking or biking to school because the benefits are amazing,” Stezowski said.