CHILDREN MAP OUT THE SAFEST AND MOST
SUSTAINABLE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Youngsters at Peterborough primary schools
have taken part in a project to map out the safest and most
environmentally friendly journeys to school.
Children at Hampton Vale, Braybrook and Eye
primary schools took part in the project run by Peterborough City
Council's Travelchoice team. Each produced a personalised 'travel
zone' map which shows their school in the centre and walking and
cycling zones around it.
The ‘travel zone’ is a series of boundary
lines, set at five and ten minute walking intervals from the school
gates. Those living within the boundary lines are encouraged to
park at one of the boundary lines and make the rest of the school
journey on foot to illustrate how important it is that parents find
somewhere socially acceptable and safe to park.
To plot the maps, children walked different
routes to school and to their friends' houses and recorded how long
each journey took as well as the number of steps.
The children will make posters for their
classrooms along with letters and leaflets to share their work with
parents and the rest of the school.
Each school will be presented with an A1 size
map of their travel zone to display, and A4 versions for children
to show their parents.
Councillor Samantha Dalton, the city council's
cabinet member for environment capital, said: "This project is a
great way of getting children to think about how they travel to
school and the impact it has on the environment and local
community. By encouraging them to choose journeys which involve
walking or cycling, they can make a difference to their health as
well as the environment."
Nicola Winstone, the city council's school
travel plan officer, said: "Getting the children involved in the
project means that they know how far they are able to walk in ten
minutes and how easy it is to walk or cycle to school. The project
also encourages them to think about how the local community is
affected by excessive traffic flow."