Active School Travel
Children's health and well-being is improved by leaving the car behind and actively travelling to school. Walking and cycling to school is an important step in reducing emissions and supporting a cleaner environment so children can breathe easier.
Taking the school bus is another important part of active school travel. Walking to and from bus stops is beneficial. Keeping cars off the street and away from schools makes areas around schools safer.
Using a healthy schools approach provides opportunities within the school and community environment to encourage participation in a wide variety of ways to actively get to school.
School programs
KFL&A Public Health can offer more information and support to help implement an active school travel initiative at your school through the following programs:
Leave the Car at Home and Take the City Bus to School! |
| Kingston Transit provides free bus transportation to all grade 9, 10, 11, and 12 students in the City of Kingston. Use your student card. |
Walk a Block |
| If students need to be driven, find a safe drop zone a few blocks from the school to encourage walking. This helps to decrease traffic congestion and pollution on the school grounds. |
No Idling at School |
| Turn off your engine when picking up or dropping off students. |
Walking School Bus |
| Parent and senior student volunteers walk along a route, picking up children on the way to school. One day or more a week is set aside as the day to walk to school (e.g., Walking Wednesdays). This can be done casually with a few neighbours, or get schools on board to develop a more comprehensive program. |
Walk, Cycle, Bus to School...Leave the Car Behind |
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A presentation given by a Public Health Nurse to Grades 3, 4, and 5 students on active school travel. During the presentation, students learn how walking, cycling, or busing to school can improve health and support a healthy environment. |
Neighbourhood Walkabout |
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A community group including police, school staff, parents, public health nurse, and appropriate municipal employees conduct a tour of the school area looking for safe routes and appropriate infrastructure to support walking and cycling to school. |
How to get involved with active school travel
Active school travel is very important for children in our community. Sixty-two percent of children are driven to school, when most can walk, cycle, or take the school bus. Parents have an important influence on active school travel at our local schools. The video Active School Travel explains the importance of parent involvement in active school travel initiatives.
Resources
- Ontario Active School Travel - Resources for teachers including curriculum-based activities and teaching tools.
- Transit information - City of Kingston - bus schedule information including: routes, rates, travel planning, and payment options. Can be used for planning school field trips and other outings.