Media release

1 February 2007

Back to school. Auckland's kids buck national trend

Auckland commuters bracing themselves for the impact of school traffic which will hit the roads from 8 February, will be pleased to hear that there will be 3,200 fewer car trips to school each morning in Auckland due to the success of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority's (ARTA) TravelWise programme.

While the number of children being driven to school nationally has risen by an average of three per cent a year, schools in Auckland linked to the TravelWise programme have shown a three per cent decrease.

TravelWise is co-ordinated by ARTA in partnership with Auckland's local councils. Auckland's now iconic Walking School Buses are a key part of the programme.

ARTA's Manager of Sustainable Transport, Anna Percy says, "The Ministry of Transport's survey of travel to school has shown that the proportion of children being driven has doubled from 31 per cent in 1989/90 to 61 per cent in 2003/06. The TravelWise schools in Auckland show the opposite trend. Prior to developing Travel Plans, 53 per cent of children at these schools were driven to school in the family car. Eighteen months on, that figure has fallen by 3 per cent to 50 per cent.

Against a global trend of increasing CO2 emissions the TravelWise Programme has achieved a decrease of over 700 tonnes of CO2 a year, all from taking kids going school out of cars.

Transport Minister Annette King says she is delighted that so many school children in Auckland are now defying the national trend. "When I was Health Minister I was a strong supporter of Walking School Buses because they improve children's physical and mental fitness and health. Now, as Transport Minister, I am also increasingly aware of the role they play in helping to resolve Auckland's traffic congestion and transport issues. The more we can all support initiatives that get children out of cars and encourage them to walk, cycle and catch the bus or train, the better all round." Dr Erica Hinckson of AUT University independently assessed the TravelWise programme in 2005, and again in 2006, when 17,000 children were surveyed to find out how they travelled to school. Dr Hinckson says that the programme is unique in the way it engages children, parents and school communities.

"TravelWise plans decrease car use, and increase walking to school, and this change is sustained over time. The schools that we have evaluated over more than one year have shown a continued improvement" says Dr Hinckson.

TravelWise was launched by Prime Minister Helen Clark in March 2005. The news that there are 2,700 fewer children travelling to school by car means that the programme is already quarter of the way to achieving its 10-year target of reducing car trips to school by 12,600 each morning peak.

The programme is funded by Auckland local authorities, the Auckland Regional Council and Land Transport NZ and supported by SkyCity Cinemas and AMI Insurance.

About TravelWise

The achievements of the TravelWise programme include:

1. Reducing congestion - the programme takes 1.8 million car trips off the road each year; 2. Providing safer infrastructure and better supervision for children walking to school 3. Helping children to travel to school in ways they prefer - only 22 per cent of primary school children want to travel to school by car; 4. Enabling healthier, fitter children and stronger, safer communities[i] ; 5. Reducing greenhouse emissions by over 700 tonnes of CO2 annually, and reducing fuel use and local air and water pollution.

Ninety four schools in Auckland are working on School Travel Plans, and the region now has two hundred and eleven Walking School Buses. The TravelWise programme is coordinated by ARTA in partnership with the region's local authorities.

About Auckland's Walking School Bus programme

The Walking School Bus programme is run by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) in partnership with the region's local councils, schools and communities. Any Auckland school wishing to set up a Walking School Bus (WSB) should contact ARTA or their local council to find out more.

WSBs facilitate children using active transport to and from school, by providing a safe method of walking which reduces both children's and parents' fear of danger. The buses make the streets safer for all children, not only those on the WSBs. WSBs have broad health benefits for children. These benefits may be long-term, as involvement in the WSB appears to shift attitudes about active transport as an important alternative to car use for travel within neighbourhoods.

Auckland recently received international recognition for its Walking to School Programme winning the IWALK 'Walk to School Award' which recognises the achievements, commitment and dedication of the region, parent volunteers and children to using sustainable transport to get to and from school.

Walking School Buses are supported nationwide by Land Transport New Zealand. Land Transport New Zealand is currently working on ways to assist Walking School Buses to develop further throughout New Zealand and assistance is being provided on this work by ARTA.

About Auckland's Walking School Bus Reward programme

In 2006 a Reward Programme was introduced which is supported by Village SKYCITY, AMI Insurance, PushPlay (SPARC) and 10,000 steps. The Reward Programme recognises the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who run the buses which is vital to the success of the overall programme.

About Walk to School Week - Feet First 2007

This year's Walk to School Week offers TravelWise schools and Walking School Buses a chance to celebrate their achievements. This is being run nationally, and in many Auckland schools from 5 - 9 March 2007 by Land Transport New Zealand. Its aim is to promote walking to school and Wednesday 7 March, is Feet First Day.

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