News Release

3 July 2013

EMBARGOED TO 1745

Mayor tells schools to get a move on

The Mayor is calling on the third of Auckland schools yet to sign up to school travel plans to get a move on, join up and share in the success.

Len Brown’s comments came at the annual Travelwise awards held at the Cloud on Queens Wharf on Wednesday night.

“Travelwise is at the heart of what we trying to achieve in Auckland,” says the Mayor. “The number of car trips taking children to school doubled in the past 30 years. The result was traffic chaos, accidents and poor child health.

“Travelwise has turned that situation around. Sixty-three per cent of all schools have signed up. There’s been 58 per cent reduction in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists around those schools. There are 11,000 fewer car trips since its inception. These awards are a great way to celebrate that success.

“I am calling on the boards of trustees, the principals and the parents at those schools yet to sign up to consider the benefits they are missing out on.”

A total of 185 schools were eligible for an award for their efforts at the celebration with 77 Bronze, 54 Silver and 55 Gold Awards announced.

ENDS

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