SHELL COVE Public School students and parents will improve their health and road safety by forming a daily Walking Bus.
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Shellharbour City Council has supported the school’s initiative to map out routes and provide safety measures and training for the volunteers involved.
So far 15 parents and almost 50 students have enrolled to walk five separate routes to the school from Wednesday, August 27.
Mayor Marianne Saliba said the Walking Bus provided a safe, supervised way for primary school children to get to and from school, incorporating healthy activity into their daily lives.
‘‘The bus contributes to fewer cars on the road, reduces pollution, traffic congestion and the risk of car accidents, especially around schools,’’ Cr Saliba said.
‘‘I commend the school for working on this program and the parents and children who will strive to make this a success,’’ she said.
The Walking Bus program is attributed for taking at least 600 cars off NSW roads during school peak hours and reducing carbon emissions by more than 82 tonnes since 2007.
Shell Cove Public School anticipates that 15 per cent of the school’s population will join the Walking Bus by the end of term four.
The school has also created a Walking Bus Committee, headed by Yvette Torr.
‘‘We were interested in launching a Walking Bus here at Shell Cove to reduce traffic congestion around the school to ensure the safety of all students and to increase the strong community ties within our school,’’ Ms Torr said.
Any schools interested in starting a Walking Bus are encouraged to visit the website www.walkingbus.com.au