Walking School Buses

WALKING SCHOOL BUSES
MEDIA RELEASE 2ND May 2007

Living Streets Aotearoa President, Celia Wade-Brown, joined the Hon Annette King today at Ridgway School, Wellington at the launch of the new Land Transport Walking School Bus kit.

Plentiful rain didn't deter children on the Walking School Buses from walking to school.

"I support initiatives that encourage children to walk to school. They arrive more alert, more aware of their surroundings and are part of the community.

Parents and children can get to know each other and the chaos at the school gate is reduced," says Celia Wade-Brown, who is also a Wellington City Councillor.

Recent travel survey statistics show most people are walking less than they used to. Children spend an average of four hours a week as a car passenger and less than an hour and a half walking. Celia says "This is a disaster for health - hearts, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and mental health. The daily walk is a great habit to get into as a child."

Living Streets members suggest that walking school buses need streets to have good footpaths and safe crossings. Urban sprawl also means it's harder to walk to school.

Local Councils should support walking school buses both with area based engineering and recognition of the efforts of children and parents.

In 1998 Celia Wade-Brown introduced the idea to EECA who ran the first programmes in Auckland.

Ref http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/NewPDFs/Comparing-travel-modes.pdf

Living Streets Aotearoa supports more community friendly streets - attractive environments, street trees, more moderate speeds and better land use so destinations are closer to people's homes.

ENDS

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