Walking message to drive out traffic woe

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

GET out and walk - that's the message to parents by transport bosses struggling to reduce the misery of the school run.

As a record number of schools get set to support the International Walk to School Week starting on Monday, Dorset road safety chiefs are urging parents to leave their car behind more - especially on the afternoon pick-up.

Robert Smith, road safety team leader, said: "It's incredible to think that some parents who cite `lack of time' as their reason for using the car, will arrive 45-50 minutes before the end of the school day to grab the best parking space for a quick getaway.

"If they do this every school day afternoon, as many do, they will clock up an astonishing 160 hours or almost a whole week sitting, waiting in their cars in a year.

"There are far more parking problems in the afternoon than the morning as parents arrive, park, switch-off and wait as opposed to the morning drop and go."

The Walk to School campaign does not advocate children walking alone or suggest pupils walk long distances but that they should be accompanied or part of a group that walks some of the way to and from classes.

Mr Smith said: "The park and stride message is an important one as it acknowledges the difficulties that many working parents have trying to juggle the school run with other commitments.

"Allowing a little extra time and parking well away from the school entrances does go someway towards relieving congestion, pollution and danger outside schools and provides a valuable opportunity for parents to accompany their children on foot."

Among the schools taking part in Walk to School Week is Hampreston First, near Ferndown, which is planning a huge walking bus across fields and Somerford Primary in Christchurch is closing its car park for the week.

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