main content Walking to school is easy

Pupils at Southborough Primary School have been crowned the keenest walkers in Bromley. Pavements were choc-a-bloc when pupils across the borough were set the challenge of walking to school for a day. The competition was part of a wider scheme to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce the use of cars. The event was held during European Mobility Week, a Europe-wide initiative to promote more environmentally friendly forms of transport. Pupils were presented with awards at an end of term ceremony.

“We were pleased that many pupils who would normally arrive by car tried walking for the day. Walking to school has many benefits including a stress-free journey and a regular form of exercise for both pupils and parents. We hope that pupils and parents will make a New Year’s resolution to give it a go.” said Gill McKeown, School Travel Plan Support Officer at Bromley Council, who organised the event.

13 Bromley Primary Schools took part in the competition. The winning school, Southborough Primary in Bromley, had 83% cent of their pupils walking to school. Oak Lodge School in West Wickham, came second with 80% and Burnt Ash School in Bromley came third with 74% of their pupils walking.

European Mobility Week seeks to promote other forms of transport such as;

• Car sharing
• Park and stride
• Walking Bus
• Cycling 
•  Walking

To encourage walking to school the Council operates 34 walking bus schemes involving over 300 pupils. It also co-ordinates the ‘Walk on Wednesday’ scheme.

Bromley Council provides advice on alternative forms of transport. Residents can call the Road Safety Unit on 020 8313 4546 or e-mail road.safety@bromley.gov.uk . Alternatively they can visit www.bromley.gov.uk/roadsafety

ENDS