Initiative aims to get pupils on the move

About 6000 Dunedin primary pupils are walking, wheeling or bussing to work this month as part of an effort aimed at getting children moving.

Move it March safe and active travel mascot Scout spent yesterday visiting schools around Dunedin to ride its scooter with pupils at lunch time.

Dunedin City Council school travel planning co-ordinator Charlotte Flaherty said the initiative was for a month, because research showed it took about month to change habits.

The initiative helped pupils build confidence, increased alertness at school and reduced congestion around school gates.

The schools would co-ordinate their own programmes with council support and spot prizes were being awarded to those to participated.

This year Sacred Heart School was celebrating its active travel birthday with its walking bus, which had been running every Thursday for the past 21 years in North Dunedin, rain or shine.

It is the longest-running walking school bus in the country.

Scout will join the bus in North Rd to mark the big day.

It will also be Walk and Wheel day on March 12, and the council was asking drivers to take extra care around schools.

mark.john@odt.co.nz