New Travel Stars see Polka Dots

July 9, 2010

The ‘Be a TravelWise Star’ show has just concluded a successful tour of local primary schools promoting the benefits of walking and cycling to school. 

The show touched down at six lucky North Shore schools and featured in-class road safety workshops and interactive song and dance performances by the extremely popular and perky Polka Dots.  

The workshops were designed, to not only to teach children about the health benefits of walking and cycling to school and the connection to congestion and pollution, but to excite them in action.     

Upon a recent visit to Verran’s Road Primary School, pupils nearly lifted the roof off the hall with squeals of enthusiasm and shrieks of excitement.

The school hall pumped with foot stomping, air punches and enthusiastic shout-outs of the show’s signature tune 'Beat Your Feet’.

North Shore City Council TravelWise Co-ordinator, Kelly Strong, says creating tomorrow's TravelWise stars is all about creating a positive buzz around walking and cycling among school age children today.

“Through the Polka Dots, we are not only educating kids on the social and environmental benefits of walking and cycling to school, but making it as much fun as possible for them to do their part.

“Hopefully parents will get in behind this and help their kids to become TravelWise stars by assisting to them to work out ways in which they can get involved in walking and cycling to school,“ says Ms Strong.

Over the past nine years, TravelWise has been instrumental in stemming the flow of children into private motor vehicles. It is estimated that there are 1247 fewer cars on North Shore roads for the purpose of school journeys as a result.

The North Shore City Council stands as a proud pioneer of the TravelWise programme. In 2001 Bayswater and Vauxhall Primary Schools became the first TravelWise schools in New Zealand. TravelWise programmes were then rolled out region wide by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. 

The 'Be a TravelWise Star’ educational show was organised by the North Shore City Council, in partnership with local schools and the Polka Dots theatre group, who have specially written new songs for this TravelWise initiative.  

For more information on TravelWise or how your child can become a TravelWise Star, contact Kelly Strong at North Shore City Council (09) 486 8600 ext. 8369 or by email at kelly.strong@northshorecitygovt.nz. 

To see a short video of the Polka Dots live at Verrans School, or to hear their latest 'Beat Your Feet' song, visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz, and keyword search 'Polka Dots'.

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