BackWalk your way back to school!
September often marks the start of new beginnings. New teachers, new friends, new routines, but what about new ways to travel to school? National charity Living Streets, who run the Walk to School Campaign, are asking parents, children and even teachers to make a new (school) year’s resolution –give walking to and from school a go.
Walking to school regularly is a fantastic way to get some activity into your day. Around half of children don’t walk to school regularly, with an enormous 41% being driven to school in cars, despite the fact that the average distance to primary schools remains at around an easily walkable mile.
National charity Living Streets, who are celebrating their 80th birthday this year, works to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets around the UK. They run the highly successful Walk to School campaign, which encourages children, parents and teachers up and down the country to leave their cars at home and walk to school. In fact, October is International Walk to School month, so why not get some practice in now ready to take part next month? You can find lots of top tips at www.walktoschool.org.uk
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“When children are bundled from front door to car door, they miss out on the opportunity to burn off some energy before getting their heads down in their school books. Walking to school is also a great opportunity to socialise with friends, get to know their community and to learn about road safety en route.
“We would love everyone who normally drives the school run to start a new (school) year’s resolution and try walking. We think you’ll be amazed at how enjoyable it can be; a chance to spend real quality time together, and reap health rewards for all the family.”
Living Streets Walk to School Campaign is responsible for Walk to School Month in October, Walk to School Week in May, and also the highly popular WoW (Walk once a week) scheme. WoW rewards pupils with a collectable enamel badge if they walk to school regularly and the kooky designs have become collector’s items in playgrounds across the country. This year, the badges have been designed by school children themselves around the theme of ‘nature in the UK’ and pupils are encouraged to walk at least once a week to earn their full set.
To find out more about the Walk to School Campaign, or to get involved in Walk to School Month this October, please visit www.walktoschool.org.uk.
For more information contact Anna Powell, Press Officer on 0207 377 4914 or email anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk. For any out of hours press enquiries, please call 07545 209865.
Notes to editors
Living Streets’ Walk to School campaign is supported by the Department for Transport, Transport for London, ACTravelwise and Modeshift, and delivered in partnership with local organisers throughout England.
The Walk to School campaign encourages primary school pupils, parents and staff to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives by walking to and from school wherever possible. Visit www.walktoschool.org.uk for more information.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 03/09/2009
