Local Southampton school children will once again be putting their ‘best feet’ forward during International Walk to School Week, from Monday 2 to Friday 6 October 2006.
International Walk to School Week is an annual event
which encourages parents to walk their children to school. For those
for whom the journey is too far to walk, there is still the opportunity
to park some way from the school and walk for at least part of the
journey.
Recent research has discovered that significant numbers of parents
would like to spend more quality time with their children. Fathers and
grandfathers, particularly, acknowledge that this is not achieved while
they are driving and that they are more likely to have quality
conversation with a child while walking.
Southampton City Councillor Jill Baston, Cabinet member for Environment
and Transport said: "The council combines Walk to School Week with
other initiatives relating to environmentally friendly travel. Several
schools are running successful Walking Buses and many have had secure
cycle storage installed to encourage cycling".
National tests indicate that morning pollution levels at the school
gate are higher than in city centres. Up to 20 per cent of morning
rush-hour traffic is generated by the school run, with cars causing
congestion, pollution and dangerous situations outside most school
gates.
Walk to School Week is organised jointly by Travelwise and the
Pedestrian Association, with local input by Southampton City Council’s
Sustainable Travel and Road Safety Team.
More information about Walk to School week can be obtained from Carol
Bagshaw, Sustainable Travel Manager, on 023 8083 2006, or visit
http://www.walktoschool.co.uk
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