National Walk Safely to School Day (Friday, May 20) is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children.
Ms Finn said she was delighted that her advocacy previously with the P&C led to Council installing a raised pedestrian crossing on Morris Street and is making the area safer, but parents are still concerned about safety of pupils crossing Fowler Road to and from school.
“They believe that it is only a matter of time before a motor vehicle is involved in an accident with a pedestrian,” Ms Finn said.
“So, I have written to Cumberland Council about this and asked them to investigate options to make Fowler Road safer – including installing pedestrian fencing.”
The top five tips for parents to get their kids walking to school are:
1. Walk some or if you can, walk all the way to school,
2. Get off the bus, train, or tram a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way,
3. Leave the car at least 1 km away from school and walk the rest of the way,
4. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier to fit in a walk to school, and
5. If you can’t walk in the morning, walk home after school.
Many benefits to walking to school, but important it can be done safely
VISITING Merrylands Public School on National Walk Safely to School Day to meet local parents, State MP for Granville Julia Finn said encouraging students to walk to school has many benefits but it is also important that they can do so safely.