A fun day that encourages primary school children and their families to walk, cycle, scoot or skate to school.

A citywide push is on to get more Christchurch children walking or wheeling to school.

Christchurch City Council has designated Wednesday 6 March as Walk or Wheel to School Day and is encouraging families with primary school aged children to leave their cars at home that day and walk, cycle, scoot or skate to school instead.

“The aim is to get as many children walking or wheeling to school as possible on 6 March and to demonstrate that active forms of transport are a viable alternative to taking the car.

Council Transport Operations Manager Steffan Thomas - 

“It has been proven that active travel to school can increase children’s concentration by up to four hours so when kids walk or wheel to school it is better for them and their learning.

“Studies have also found that children who travel actively to school have better spatial awareness and more road sense than those who are driven,’’ Mr Thomas says.

“There are also financial and environmental benefits when kids walk or ride to school - parents save money on fuel and there are less cars on the road.’’