Cottam, P. (2000). Promoting safe and active travel to school: walk a child to school day and beyond. Conference Paper.

School communities are increasingly concerned with the number of children being taken to school by motor vehicle, with regard to traffic congestion around school streets, and the road safety and general health of their children. In March 1999, the Christchurch City Council staged a ‘Walk a Child to School Day’ (WCSD) event to promote safe and active travel to school. One third of Christchurch primary schools took part in the event, which saw an increase the numbers of children walking to school from 35% before to 73% on the day. To capitalise on the enthusiasm generated by WCSD, a ‘Safe and Active’ newsletter to schools has been established. Next year’s event will be used to promote the ‘Walking School Bus’ as an ongoing mechanism of school communities to deal with traffic issues. The educational benefits of safe and active travel include children learning good safety habits, and experiencing the traffic environment first hand, whilst walking with their caregivers to school. [Author Abstract]