Full Article - Published: 10/10/2009Written By: 01/01/1970

Pupils, their parents and staff are being encouraged to walk or cycle to school each day during October, which is national Walk to School month.

All schools in Medway can take part in the Golden Boot Walking Challenge for three weeks from Monday, 5 October.

The challenge is for school communities to come together and complete as many walks or cycle trips as possible. This information will be collected on a daily basis by each class.

At the end of the month, schools will be asked to calculate their overall average percentage of pupils walking to school each day. The school with the highest percentage of walks throughout the month will be declared winners of the Golden Boot Award and will be presented with a trophy by Medway Council’s Safer Journeys Team.

Many schools will cone off areas outside their gates to show parents and children how much safer it is to reach school without parked cars obstructing their view and creating potential hazards. Kent Police in Medway, the council’s Parking Team and the CCTV Smart car will support this initiative.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, said: “I hope that once pupils have been walking to school for a month, many of them will see the benefits of it and that schools will continue to independently promote walking to school as the preferred method. It not only has health benefits but also creates a safer environment outside the school gates by reducing congestion caused by parked cars.”

There are now more than 40 walking buses in Medway with nearly 700 pupils on board. This is a record for Medway both in terms of routes and the numbers participating; and exceeds any other area in Kent.

More walking buses are expected to join this autumn term with pupils wearing new tabards (pictured), which will be available in six bright colours, and hi-vis beanie hats for the winter months.

For further details visit www.medway.gov.uk/sjtnews