PM and Mayor to launch Birkenhead Primary School Travel Plan

August 10, 2005

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Mayor George Wood will help Birkenhead Primary School launch its new Travel Plan on Friday morning.

The plan is the culmination of more than a year's joint work between Birkenhead Primary, North Shore City and Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

North Shore City Mayor, George Wood, says all parties involved are committed to the plan's successful implementation.

"The enthusiastic input of students, staff and parents into the planning process has been great to see." The TravelWise to School project aims to encourage alternatives to car travel, such as cycling, walking and car pooling, and improve safety for children travelling to school. The project is part of the council's effort to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and provide better transport choices.

"Travelwise is working well in many schools around North Shore City, and we plan to roll it out to more schools in the years ahead," says Mayor Wood.

"The walking school bus programme in particular has been a hit in our city. We now have more than 55 walking school bus routes operating at 22 schools, involving about 800 children. These help ease traffic congestion and improve safety for children."

On Friday morning before school begins, Northcote MP Ann Hartley will walk with the children on one of Birkenhead Primary's three walking school buses.

Mayor Wood says the Prime Minister's presence illustrates the importance of road safety at both a local and national level.

ENDS

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