Walk Safely to School Day
7 May 2010
Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is a national, annual event that encourages all primary school children to walk and commute safely to school. It is a community event seeking to promote physical activity, road safety, health, public transport and the environment.
Walk Safely to School Day will be held throughout Australia on Friday 7 May 2010.
The objectives of WSTSD are:
- To encourage parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children and reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
- To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
- To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
- To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age, which are difficult to change as children become adults.
- To promote the use of public transport.
- To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
- To reduce the level of traffic congestion.
Promotional Kits
A kit containing WSTSD stickers and posters will be posted to every Primary School (Public, Catholic and Private) in Australia in April 2010.
WSTSD kits will also be sent to all Councils throughout Australia.
How your school can be involved
On Friday 7 May 2010, we want you to participate in Walk Safely to School Day.
We want to encourage all parents, carers and teachers to promote safe walking to children. You can encourage others to participate in the following ways:
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Use information on the event in your newsletters.
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Encourage students to colour in the WSTSD poster.
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Ask your local P&C to help support the event.
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Host a healthy breakfast at school.
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Tell your friends, parents, carers and teachers about the event.
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Suggest to parents and carers who have to drive, to park at least 10 minutes away from the school.
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Register your school as a WSTSD Ambassador to permit and assist with publicity.
More Information
For further information click here or phone the Pedestrian Council of Australia on (02) 9968 4555.
Walk to Work Day
Walk to Work Day (WTWD) is an event to promote regular walking and physical activity. It is an annual, national event in which the community can become involved in a healthy and environmentally friendly activity.
The aims of Walk to Work Day are:
- To promote regular walking as a healthy activity (better physical, mental & social health).
- To reduce the reliance on the private motor vehicle (reduce car-dependency).
- To promote and improve the use of public transport (less traffic).
- To improve air quality by reducing unnecessary vehicle emissions (reduce global warming).
How to participate
You can be a Walking Class Hero on Friday 1 October 2010 by simply walking all or part of the way to work. Use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. Or take a half-hour walk at lunch-time. And where possible, walk up stairs. But please leave the car at home. If you have to drive, leave the car at least a kilometre or two from your destination and walk the remaining distance.
What employers can do
All employers and managers are urged to set an example by participating and encouraging all employees to walk as part of commuting to work. They can start promoting the event by linking their website to the WTWD website.
Active transport (walking and cycling) and work-place physical activity programs have been shown to greatly reduce sick leave and increase productivity. Fact sheets and other material about the benefits of walking can be obtained from the WTWD website.
Who is participating
Community leaders including governors, government ministers, MPs, mayors, councillors, CEOs and celebrities from the entertainment, social and sporting arenas will be participating.
So unblock some arteries, relieve the congestion, put your feet first on Walk to Work Day and make time to walk every day.
For further information click here or phone the Pedestrian Council of Australia on (02) 9968 4555.