Street Smart Schools

It’s that time again. The Street Smart Walkin n’ Wheelin interschool competition kicks off on Monday February 15. The competition encourages children to use active transport such as walking and cycling to get to and from school. Thanks to Feet First there will be $300 of active transport library books as prizes and the opportunity to have local stories posted on the Feet First and HALO websites. Waitaki District Council Community Safety Officer Alison Banks says “2010 is shaping up to be a very exciting year, with the addition of Bikes 4 Fun, part of Bikewise month, and Feet First, Walk to School Every Week, providing even more incentives for schools to participate.”

Street Smart Coordinator Helen Algar said “the inclusion of the national initiatives into our programs allow us to provide more in the way of give-aways and prizes. It also injects some variety into what has thankfully become ‘business as usual’ for participating schools.”

Mrs Algar believes that it is important to ensure the programs, that are part of the Waitaki District Council Road Safety program, add value to our community as a whole and school communities in particular. She said “At this stage we have seen wonderful success with data showing that the numbers of children walking and cycling to school as part of these programs has demonstrably increased. This is a good outcome for all stakeholders and testament to the support being provided by parents and schools. It is important for the health and welfare of our young people, and our environment, that we continue this trend towards increased active transport levels.”

To celebrate Feet First: Walk to School Every Week, Street Smart is proposing some Fancy Feet days in the third week of March. The children will dress up their feet in any way they choose and have some fun along the way.