Travelling sustainably to school pays off

Auckland Transport Media Release Tuesday 17 May

Travelling sustainably to school pays off for TravelWise school winners Schools named winners for TravelWise week have up to 89 per cent of students travelling sustainably.

Organised by Auckland Transport, TravelWise Week, which was held between 21-25 March, challenged schools to get the highest percentage of students travelling to and from school in a sustainable way each day to win prizes.

Students logged their progress during the course of the week on classroom travel charts to show they had walked, cycled, scootered, carpooled or took the bus or train to and from school each day. Auckland Transport Community Transport Manager Matthew Rednall says the week was very successful.

"147 schools entered the annual competition, the highest number we have ever had.

"Encouraging school children to use active travel is a healthy choice which can be carried on into childhood," Mr Rednall says.

Many schools taking part got into the spirit of the week holding their own week activities such as bike days, walkathons and fancy feet days.

Winning schools received sport packs. Walking School Buses are in their own category, and drawn winners won book vouchers as prizes. The winning schools and category entered:

• Windy Ridge School, Small School Category, 89 per cent travelled sustainably

• Henderson North, Medium School Category, 79 per cent travelled sustainably

• Glendowie School, Large School Category, 88 per cent travelled sustainably

• Auckland Normal Intermediate, Large Intermediate Category, 89 per cent travelled sustainably

• Rosehill College, High School Category, 85 per cent travelled sustainably Walking School Buses winners:

Ponsonby Primary School, Favona School, Green Bay Primary School, Glamorgan School, Ellerslie School, Sunnyhills School, Chelsea Primary School and Peninsula Primary. ENDS

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