Walking Wheeling Wednesday Success
20 April, 2007
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Impressive early results from Council’s latest Active School Travel initiative reveal up to 90% of school children are using sustainable transport to travel to and from school, Environment and Sustainability Chair Helen Abrahams said.
The successful Active School Travel program aims to reduce congestion around selected schools by encouraging families to walk, cycle, car-pool or use public transport to travel to school.
“The first monthly Golden Boot Trophy was won by Newmarket school with an impressive Walking Wheeling Wednesday figure of 89% of children who walked, cycled, caught public transport or car-pooled to school,” Cr Abrahams said.
“West End State School’s result was also impressive – with 53% of the school population using sustainable modes of transport on their Walking Wheeling Wednesday.”
The new Walking Wheeling Wednesday initiative rewards students with a sticker for their frequent traveller cards. When the cards are full students win selected prized from their school.
The Golden Boot Trophy is awarded to the school with the highest percentage of students using sustainable modes of transport in the previous month of Walking Wheeling Wednesday.
The following also showed leadership in sustainable travel with very high percentages of students who travelled to school:
Norman Park – 78%
Moorooka SS – 78%
MacGregor SS – 72%
Seven Hills SS – 72%
Algester SS – 58%
Manly West SS – 56%
West End SS – 53%
Cannon Hill SS – 50%
“There is a really encouraging spirit of competitiveness between the schools for the monthly Golden Boot Trophy,” Cr Abrahams said.
“I am delighted by the success of the new Walking Wheeling Wednesday initiative and congratulate all schools for their wholehearted involvement in reducing traffic congestion and moving to sustainable, healthy modes of travel.
“Last year, the Active School Travel Program resulted in an average 15% reduction in car trips at participating school.
“This year is shaping up to be even more successful”
"The traffic reduction this initiative has delivered is a fantastic on-the-ground result," Councillor Abrahams said.
"This initiative has not only succeeded in easing traffic congestion, it has produced obvious advances in child safety at our schools as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions.