Initiatives for children to walk take place next week

NATIONAL “Walk to School” and “Walk on Wednesday” initiatives – part of An Taisce’s Green Schools Travel programme – are to take…

NATIONAL “Walk to School” and “Walk on Wednesday” initiatives – part of An Taisce’s Green Schools Travel programme – are to take place next week.

Data collected by the environmental organisation from 18,000 school children in Dublin showed a 52 per cent increase in numbers of children cycling to school last year. In the same period there was a 31 per cent increase in the number of children walking, and an 18 per cent reduction in the numbers being brought to school by car.

Encouraged by these figures, An Taisce is running a week-long promotion of sustainable exercise for children, centred on “Walk on Wednesday” on May 20th.

Funding for the Green Schools Travel initiative is provided by the Department of Transport, which also sponsors the Green School Travel Awards.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist