Synopsis
The younger generation is a special case when it comes to education and an awareness of rational decision making when considering transport issues. Currently, more and more people are buying cars and contributing to traffic congestion and pollution. In consequence parents are increasingly worried about road safety and often feel that they should drive their children to school. One of the results of this vicious circle is that children today are generally less physically active than those of previous generations.
Research has demonstrated that two thirds of children today are not active enough to ensure their future health and well being. In France, obesity in children is rising: in the eighties 5% to 6% of children were obese (amongst 5 to 12 year olds), this has risen to 15% in 2000. Asthma in children has quadrupled in the past twenty years. Air pollution is one of the main causes of this dramatic rise.
Conscious of these issues the municipality of Montreuil and the local energy management agency MVE (Maîtrisez Votre Énergie), teamed up to join the group of pilot towns in the school travel programme at the start of September 2002. The town's schools were invited to participate for the first time in the "Walk to School" international campaign. This group of pilot towns for the organisation of school journeys in the Ile-de-France region was set up by ARENE of Ile-de-France and the Regional Delegation Ile-de-France of ADEME. The municipality of Montreuil carried out these initial experiments in creating a school travel programme with a view to adopting such a programme for all of the town's elementary schools. The programme consisted of encouraging children to come to school on foot, and also to return home on foot on certain days of the week.
Already in use in Canada, the United States and Switzerland the concept of a pedestrian bus (also known as a walking bus) is simple and easy to put into practice. It consists of taking and collecting children from school on foot. Adults take turns to lead a group of children over different sections of an itinerary.
Before a child goes to school on foot or by bike the difficulties of the journey must be assessed stage by stage. Studies have shown that this early training can improve a child's safety awareness (crossing in the best places, looking properly, etc). The child is thus better protected for the future.
Target groups: children
Fields: walking / pedestrians
This case study is one of 175 projects from the Smile Project Local Experiences Database listed on this website.
To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
Education
: Local Government
: Mobility Management
: SMILE Project
: Schools & Colleges
: Sustainable Transport
: User behaviour
: Walking
Complete the Questionnaire to add your organisation to this website