The schools initiative is entitled ‘WOW!’ and stands for ‘Walk/Wheels Once a Week’. Over 45,000 primary and post primary school pupils in the north will be taking part in this year’s Walk to School Week (19 – 23 May) enjoying the environmental, health, social and financial benefits of walking the journey to and from school.
To mark the beginning of Walk to School Week 2008, Conor Murphy visited Fane Street Primary School in South Belfast, a local school actively promoting sustainable transport.
The minister said: “At peak morning rush hour approximately 20% of cars are on the school run, significantly adding to congestion on our local roads and many of these car journeys are within reasonable walking distance. With many schools being located in or near residential areas this also has a knock on effect on congestion affecting local communities.
“With growing congestion at the school gates and car commuters feeling the pressure of rising fuel prices, I would urge all schools to consider the important role that education has to play in delivering a clear message in support of sustainability.”
Schools are being encouraged to use this year’s Walk to School theme of ‘Saving The Planet – One Step at a Time’ to organise their own special events and explore their surrounding environment on the school journey.
The WOW! initiative has been developed by Travelwise NI and trialled in over 100 primary and post primary schools. It is now available to every school and uses colourful posters, interactive daily charts and certificates to get pupils actively involved in walking and cycling to help address the problems caused by the ‘school run.’ The minister expressed his hopes that schools registering for Walk to School Week will also participate in the new WOW! Initiative.
Fane Street Primary School Principal Stephen Orr said that the school was actively involved in encouraging more parents and pupils to walk safely to and from the school and that classroom based education initiatives greatly assisted in raising pupil awareness on the importance of sustainable transport:
“Our school, like many others, is situated in a densely populated residential area and many of our 168 pupils live within walking distance. I am pleased that so many of our parents already escort their children on the walk to and from school and this new WOW! Initiative will help to reinforce the benefits of walking and cycling and hopefully encourage even more parents to leave the car at home,” said Mr Orr.
“As well as the obvious positive environmental outcomes, walking to school regularly has a range of benefits for the school including: increasing pupil alertness in the classroom, cutting congestion at school gates, improving pupils’ physical fitness levels; developing valuable road safety skills and levels of independence.”
“I would encourage other schools across Northern Ireland in a similar situation as us to look at more environmentally friendly ways of travelling to school and bringing this important sustainability message into the classroom.”
For more information on Travelwise NI schools initiatives including WOW! and Walk to School Week, or to register participation tel. 0845 378 0908 or visit. Travelwise NI website
Notes to Editors:
- Travelwise NI is an initiative of the Department for Regional Development Roads Service.
- Schools across the UK will also be participating in National Walk to School Week 2008, 19 - 23 May 2008.
- Schools that participate in Walk to School Week in the North will be eligible to win the ‘Travelwise NI Schools Time-Capsule’ to be presented during Travelwise NI Week in September and buried within school grounds.
- Walk to School 2008 participant figures are based on school registrations and requests for Travelwise NI school resources for pupils.
- 20% of traffic on the road at 8.50am is on the “School Run” (Source: House of Commons, Education & Skills Committee).
- Road Transport is responsible for 25% of CO2 in the atmosphere in the UK (Source: Transport Statistics for Great Britain 2007).
- By 31 Dec 2006 there were 958,677 registered vehicles in NI (Source: Travel Survey NI 2004 – 2006).
Media launch details
Date: Monday 19 May 2008
Time: 8.30am – 10.30am (Minister available 9am – 9.30am)
Location: Fane Street Primary School, Fane St, Belfast BT9
Directions: From city centre, travel along Lisburn Road, turn right onto Ashley Avenue (last turn off before Tates Avenue), travel to the bottom to join Fane Street, Primary School on corner at right-hand side.
Photo/broadcast opportunities
- Available interviewees:
- Conor Murphy MP, MLA, Minister for Regional Development
- Anna Coates, Travelwise NI Schools Co-ordinator
- Stephen Orr, Principal, Fane St Primary School
- Parents and pupils who walk to school will also be available
