Chapel Hill State School

For a full copy of the Chapel Hill State School Travel Plan and Active School Travel Program

please click here.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL The Brisbane City Council has established a Program called the Active School Travel, and the school has been accepted to be part of this Program. The official school launch will take place on Monday 10^th May on Assembly.  All parents are welcome to attend.

Driving children to school means that they miss out on the exercise of walking or riding.  With increasing obesity levels in children and the rising levels of road congestion and pollution that this traffic causes, we need to try and reduce the number of cars at the school gate.

Brisbane City Council's Active School Travel Program aims to do this by encouraging more students to walk, cycle or use public transport to and from school.  Of course, making the routes to school safer is part of the program as well.

The Active School Travel Program will improve students -

Health & fitness

Independence

Self-confidence

Social interaction

Environmental awareness

Motivation and

Learning

There are also many benefits for the school and community including improved road safety conditions, school image, access and air quality.

The 2004 Active School Travel Program parallels Qld Transport's Travelsmart School Program and is based on extensive experience and results achieved in the United Kingdom and in other States of Australia with Green School Travel Plans.

We are one of eight primary school in the Brisbane area which has been offered the opportunity to participate in the program.  Council's program will provide funding for improved communication and information for parents, activities for students such as the highly successful Walk to School Program undertaken by QUT, bicycle education, Roadstar activities and minor localised infrastructure improvements where applicable.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

BENEFITS OF ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

Active School Travel provides many benefits.

Exercise.  Obesity, diabetes and lack of fitness are emerging as major health risks among Australian children.  Regular aerobic exercise such as walking or riding is a critical factor in correcting this.  These activities are also non-competitive and as such, more enjoyable for some children.

Safety.  Children who walk or ride to school as part of a group which is supervised by adults are seen safely into the school grounds.

Road Sense.  Children who walk or ride to school with an adult learn pedestrian and road skills.  When they begin to walk or ride on their own, they are better equipped to deal with traffic.

Socialising.  Children who walk or ride in a group are given the chance to talk and make new friends.

Reduced Traffic Congestion.  Every journey made on foot or a bicycle or public transport helps reduce the amount of traffic around schools.

Easy Breathing.  Short car trips contribute significantly to poor air quality.  Globally, transport is responsible for 14% of all greenhouse emissions.  In Australia, cars contribute 51% of all emissions.

More time for parents.  Parents benefit because they have more time for other daily activities.  By taking turns volunteering to walk or cycle with children, less time during each week is spent taking children to school.

Choosing active travel for other short journeys (2 to 3 kilometres) to the shop, to visit local friends, to the park or local sport will also benefit people's health and improve the environment.