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27/04/2004
Government launch school run initiative
The Government today launched a new initiative aimed at changing the travel habits of parents of local school children.
The Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools is an initiative aimed at encouraging pupils and their parents who use the car as their primary method of travelling to school to transfer to other more environmentally friendly means, such as walking, cycling and public transport, through a package of practical and educational measures.
Launching the initiative at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, Education Minister, Barry Gardiner said: “The proportion of children being driven to school by car has been increasing steadily over recent years. Nearly 20% of the traffic on the road at 8.50 each morning is taking children to school.
“The Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools initiative, which stems from the Regional Transportation Strategy, points to the need for improving the environment for children in around schools, as well as the need for awareness campaigns to encourage alternatives to the private car.
“This is happening alongside investment of over £146 million for 23 new trains and over 450 new buses, as well as more wide scale infrastructure improvements where nearly £4.5 million is being spent on new improved footways, new cycle lanes and cycle parking facilities and bus measures.
Schools participating in the Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools programme are: St. Joseph’s College, Belfast; Parkhall College, Antrim; St Brigid’s College, Londonderry; Oakwood Integrated School, Dunmurry; St. Anthony’s Primary School, Craigavon; and Wallace High School, Lisburn.
(MB)
The Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools is an initiative aimed at encouraging pupils and their parents who use the car as their primary method of travelling to school to transfer to other more environmentally friendly means, such as walking, cycling and public transport, through a package of practical and educational measures.
Launching the initiative at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, Education Minister, Barry Gardiner said: “The proportion of children being driven to school by car has been increasing steadily over recent years. Nearly 20% of the traffic on the road at 8.50 each morning is taking children to school.
“The Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools initiative, which stems from the Regional Transportation Strategy, points to the need for improving the environment for children in around schools, as well as the need for awareness campaigns to encourage alternatives to the private car.
“This is happening alongside investment of over £146 million for 23 new trains and over 450 new buses, as well as more wide scale infrastructure improvements where nearly £4.5 million is being spent on new improved footways, new cycle lanes and cycle parking facilities and bus measures.
Schools participating in the Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools programme are: St. Joseph’s College, Belfast; Parkhall College, Antrim; St Brigid’s College, Londonderry; Oakwood Integrated School, Dunmurry; St. Anthony’s Primary School, Craigavon; and Wallace High School, Lisburn.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Some low cloud lingering in the north and west through the day, although cloud should burn back to the coast as the day goes on. Elsewhere some good sunny spells with very little cloud. Warm with light winds. Maximum temperature 22 °C.Tonight:A sunny evening for most except where cloud lingers along the north coast. Cloud will increase for a lot of areas overnight with mist and fog patches developing. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
