Walk to School Week – 18 – 22 May 2009

• May. 15 by Georgie Campbell (0)

Pupils across the West Midlands will be united in this year’s Walk to School week.

Kicking off next week, Birmingham City Council’s Road Safety Team will be launching the event at Christ the King Catholic Primary School in Kingstanding on Monday.

 Working with the 1,700 schools, the campaign aims to get children across the region active and motivated.

 David Marr, Transport Director at Government Office for the West Midlands, said:

 ”We want as many children as possible to walk to school.  It’s an activity that not only tackles the issues of childhood obesity and carbon emissions, but it also an excellent way for young children to learn more about road safety.”

Working alongside Guide Dogs for the Blind, Walk to School participants will follow in the footsteps of Beijing Paralympics Games blind footballer Lee Greatbatch at the launch.

 With up to 430,000 children getting involved Birmingham City Council hope the campaign will encourage children to walk to school on a regular basis.

 This year’s event marked a new alliance between council constituencies across the West Midlands.  Previously council’s undertook their own activities and campaigns, whereas this year the teams have co-ordinated one combined event.

 Naomi Coleman, School Travel Planner for the North, commented:

 ”This year we’re working with all the School Travel Plans regionally to create a combined effort across the West Midlands.  The theme, “Walking Together”, encourages it to be a social event to get the children motivated.”

 With the one week campaign dedicated to the promotion of walking it is hoped children will be encouraged to walk the short distance to their local schools.

The location of primary schools throughout Birmingham is surprisingly dense, with most children living less than two kilometres away.  However it has been suggested students are more and more often being located to schools further away from home.

Although the campaign is aimed as primary and secondary schools across the region, there is no reason why university students, city workers or other local residents can’t show their commitment to the campaign by shredding off their carbon footprints and taking to the pavements of Birmingham.