2017-03-13 GC - Attachment 1 to Item 5 - Draft Transport Strategy 2017-2027

     Active Travel to Schools Program
     An Active Travel to Schools Program is a behaviour change program which encourages
     parents, carers, and teachers to consider using alternatives to driving the car to school. These
     include walking, cycling, scooters, skateboards, carpooling or catching the bus. Schools are
     frequently catchment based, meaning many people live within a few kilometres of their school.
     This makes them ideal to encourage walking or riding bikes and scooters. Active travel to
     school may not be possible all the time, but replacing even one or two trips a week with a
     sustainable mode can make a difference.

     Traffic congestion at drop off and pick up times is an issue for some schools in Noosa Shire.
     Students being dropped off at school in the morning also coincide with people getting to work
     which in turn creates traffic and congestion in some areas of the Noosa road network.

     Benefits of an Active Travel to Schools Program:
         •   Reduces traffic congestion and parking issues around the school.
         •	Safety when students walk and cycle in a group or with a parent. Cars around the
            school gate pose a significant danger to students. Less cars makes the school a safer
            place.
         •	Increases physical activity. An Active Travel to School Program is a great initiative for
            health and well-being.
         •   Reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with driving cars.
         •	People out and about walking and cycling create a sense of community and foster
            social interaction. This means people can keep an eye out for each others’ well-being.


                 The weekday commute times could be eased greatly by encouraging children
                to cycle or walk to school. Most schools have good cycle paths running nearby –
                                              Your Say Respondent



     Park and walk/ride to school days, class competitions, bicycle education, and national event
     days could be part of the solution to address congestion around schools.

     Schools for consideration in the next 1-2 years include:
         •   Tewantin State School
         •   Noosaville State School
         •   Good Shepherd Lutheran College
         •   Sunshine Beach State School
         •   St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.

     The focus will be on primary schools. Establishing healthy habits for travelling to and from
     school at a young age will hopefully continue into high school.

     The success of the program will be dependent on support from the school community, in
     particular those schools that take ownership of the program to reduce traffic congestion and
     create a safer, healthier more vibrant school environment.


18