What is Active School Travel?
Active travel is any form of human-powered (non-motorized) transportation such as walking, biking, scootering, skateboarding, and using a wheelchair. Sustainable school transportation emphasizes the importance of incorporating active travel with sustainable transportation modes, such as riding the school bus.
Walking or wheeling to school has a variety of benefits that directly affect students including improved physical health and mental well-being, sense of neighbourhood connectedness, cleaner and safer school zones and environments, and improved academic success.
Benefits of Active Travel
Healthy Children
Walking or wheeling to school or your school bus stop is a great way to help fulfill students’ daily physical activity needs and create healthy habits. Active travel also positively affects mental health and well-being by reducing stress levels and boosting moods. When active travel journeys to and from school are taken with family members and/or friends it helps students create stronger relationships and develop a greater sense of community as they become more familiar with their local neighbourhood.
Less Traffic & Pollution
More active travel users result in decreased automobile dependence and traffic congestion around the school, leading to cleaner air and school environments for all.
Safer School Zones
Students that choose active travel on a regular basis directly improve school zone safety as vehicle traffic is immediately reduced. Walking and wheeling to school provides students with an opportunity to improve their traffic awareness and pedestrian safety skills, increasing their sense of independence and resulting in more mindful and educated future motorists.
Better Academic Performance
Students that choose to engage in physical activity in the mornings before school, arrive at school more alert and ready to learn which improves individual test scores and overall school success.
