Active Travel 

ACTIVE TRAVEL

Active travel to and from school is alive and well at BPPS in 2021. 

So far this year, there have been two Walk and Wheel Wednesdays and 6LK have won each week with more than 77% of the students walking or wheeling to school. 

The Foundation students haven’t been at school yet to participate in Walk and Wheel Wednesdays, but each Wednesday each class submits their data and we find out how many students wheel, walk, catch public transport or come to school by car. 

In the last two years on average more than 52% of students walk or wheel to school. So far this year we are at around 48% and it would be great to get those figures back to 52% or above. It would be amazing to reach our goal of 55%!

There are many good reasons why walking or riding to school is good. Here are some of the benefits – 

• participating in regular exercise,
• developing active routines and good habits for life,
• traffic congestion will be reduced around the school, and
• those who do ride or walk are creating good endorphins that boost general wellbeing.

Some of the activities and events happening this year to encourage students to ride or walk to school are –

• National Ride2School Day is coming up on Friday 19th March, so please look out for information in the next newsletter about that day.
• BPPS have a Fleet of Bikes – purchased from BYK – The best kids bikes using the grant we received in 2019 from the Ride2School, Bicycle Network. During lunchtimes students who are unable to ride a bike yet will be offered bike-riding lessons. To take advantage of this, please keep a look out in future newsletters.
• We will be involved in more National Active events throughout the year like National Walk Safely to School Day and Walk to School October and you will find out more about them in future newsletters.

So at this stage, mark the National Ride2School Day date in your diaries – Friday 19th March, and  get your bikes ready for a fun day riding to and from school.

And to finish off, each Wednesday I write or students write a walk and wheel poem which is read in the classroom when the class walk and wheel data is added to the spreadsheet.

Last week's poem was -

Along time ago when I went to school, 

I walked everyday with my friend - how cool! 

We met at her house, just up the street 

And walked each day, not noticing our feet. 

We climbed some hills... but they weren't too bad 

Because we chatted and giggled, we never got mad! 

The time passed quickly and when we arrived,  

We unpacked our school bags, ready to learn and thrive. 

Looking forward to seeing you walking and wheeling to school,

Julie Tainsh