MEDIA RELEASE

7 October 2003

Buses get more legs

Auckland City is pleased to support International Walk to School Week this week, by introducing eight newly developed walking school bus routes. Two local schools, Balmoral Primary School and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Epsom, started “walking buses” on Monday (6 October).

The community benefits from the walking school bus programme include stronger links between schools and parents, enhanced awareness of road safety and less traffic congestion through reduced daily car trips to drop off and pick up school children.

“Communities are beginning the see the real benefits of the programme. This is evident by the steady increase in participating schools. The parents, or caregivers, and the children enjoy the social aspect of being part of a walking school bus rather than being in a car, while it helps to reduce congestion around the school gate” says Councillor Greg McKeown, Transport Committee chairperson.

A further four routes from Ellerslie Primary and Newton Central School are to follow in their footsteps in the near future, raising the total walking school buses in Auckland City to 40.

International Walk to School Week runs until Friday 10 October.

Ends

Ref: JB

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