'Hey Mum that’s what we’re doing!'

'Hey Mum that’s what we’re doing!'

Kate Evans and other parents have been ‘driving’ Arrowtown Primary School’s Walking School Bus since last year and as many as 8 children are regular ‘passengers’ on the ‘bus’. Kate started walking with her own children when her youngest turned 5. But it was her 9 year old that got her thinking about a walking school bus after reading a series of books with eco-friendly messages. Kate says “my son said ‘hey mum’s that’s what we’re doing! Why don’t we get more children to walk with us?’ and now we walk most days and the group has grown. It’s a great way to catch up with parents that we normally wouldn’t see and we make the time to walk because we love doing it, it’s worth it.” In fact they’re enjoying it so much, that this hardy group will be trialling walking through the winter as well. Some of the regular bikers will probably join the ‘bus’ as it is often too cold or icy in the winter to ride. Kate notices how children love being outside, how being active revitalises them before school, boosts their energy and is great for building their social skills. “When we’re walking I get to hear what’s happening at school for the children and see how they interact. I think as adults we’re giving kids some guidance to a whole learning experience that’s happening as a result of their walking.” Like other adults on walking school buses, Kate has noticed how walking children are clued up on traffic rules and have good awareness of the roads.

Walking to school is just one part of the school travel plan Arrowtown Primary School is developing over 2010. The plan was launched this year with a Go by Bike Day event which saw the largest numbers of riders in the district with as many as 250 children riding to school on the day. Tim Young, the school’s Deputy Principal has noticed how cycling has increased since the event, and the interest from parents and children on setting up a regular cycle train later in the year. The school also started a travel card scheme in term 1 rewarding children who walk, bike or catch the school bus. The school will also be undertaking a parent travel survey in term 2 to find out how parents are currently getting children to school, and how their travel options can be increased.

Further information: rae-anne.kurucz@qldc.govt.nz. , .