Minister for Transport and Municipal Services Meegan Fitzharris and Minister for Road Safety Shane Rattenbury recently joined Latham Primary School students on their walk to school for the launch of the Active Streets pilot program.
Minister Fitzharris explained that the Active Streets builds on ACT Health’s Ride or Walk to School initiative and is designed to create a supportive environment around schools that is safer and more suitable for things like walking and cycling. The Active Streets pilot is being trialled around Macquarie, Macgregor, Latham and Mount Rogers primary schools. “The first few weeks of the school year are a great time to refresh your routine and try walking or riding to school to see if it suits your household,” Minister Fitzharris commented “Schools in the Active Streets pilot program will have path networks marked with Active Streets icons which show how far and how long students have until they reach their school. It’s a simple and fun way to get to and from school. We know that physically active children are healthier, happier and more socially connected, so get out there while the weather is nice and enjoy the walk or ride to school,” Minister Fitzharris added.
Minister Rattenbury said a number of improvements have been made around the four schools in the pilot program to encourage active travel.
“Road safety, walking and cycling improvements have also been rolled out at the schools. These include dragon’s teeth at Macgregor Primary School; dragon’s teeth and footpath improvements at Macquarie Primary School; a 30 km/h speed limit, parking improvements and children’s crossing at Mount Rogers Primary School; and a 30 km/h speed limit and parking improvements at Latham Primary School.” Minister Rattenbury commented “We also launched a new easy-to-use safety guide for school communities that aims to help the community identify, report and manage traffic and safety issues around schools.”
Minister Rattenbury explained the new guide contains helpful information for parents, teachers and students about 40 km/h school zones, travelling to school by car, safety around buses, school drop-off and pick-up zones, driving and parking safely near schools, cycling to schools and general advice to parents.