School kids take to the streets
Children in more than 60 primary schools around the Wellington region will move out of the car and onto the footpaths when the Feet First Walk to School Week kicks off next Monday (3 March).
An initiative of Land Transport NZ, the Feet First programme is coordinated in the Wellington region by Greater Wellington.
A full list of activities planned for the week is available on http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/feet-first/whats-happening/wellington.html
Fran Wilde, chair of Greater Wellington, said the programme aimed to encourage those children who were not in the habit of walking to school to “give it a go. And with this run of stunning weather in the region, there’s even more of an incentive for kids to take part in the event this year.
“Walking to school is a fun way to increase fitness, learn road sense and get to know your neighbourhood. For parents and carers, it’s a great way to spend chat time with your kids and it’s environmentally friendly.”
The highlight of the week is Walk to School Day on Wednesday 5 March, when some schools will aim to have every child make the journey on foot.
Participating schools will be vying for prizes of school breakfasts and sports gear for the highest number of students involved.
The event’s momentum will be maintained through Walking Wednesdays, where children are encouraged to walk to school at least one day each week for the next six weeks. There will be prizes for the classes with the highest participation during this period.
Fran Wilde said she hoped the Feet First programme would encourage more schools in the Wellington region to promote alternative means for children to get to and from school other than in a car.
“Greater Wellington staff are keen to help schools set up travel plans which may include walking school buses, cycling, carpooling and establishing safe drop-off zones. A number of schools in the region already have walking buses but of course it would be fantastic for every school to have an active travel plan in place.”