West St. Paul School is aiming to increase our student and staff use of Active Transportation. West St. Paul school is unique is the sense that our student population is dispersed over a vast area and we face limitations such as crossing highways, traveling great distances, and a shortage of bike paths to make this dream a reality. We know that more bike paths/walking trails are regularly being created but what can we do NOW to get students to school in an active and safe manner?
Below are links to documents, websites, and maps that help to answer that question as well as discuss the many benefits of students using Active Transportation. Please explore and look through the information below that works best for your family. Perhaps biking or walking from home is a possibility. Maybe a 'Drive-to-Five/Park-and-Stride is an option. And maybe due to other obstacles Active Transportation is not a realistic option, and that is okay too!
Ultimately, what is important is your child's well-being and safety. Please use your best judgement and plan a safe and active route to school with your child before sending them on their way.
Here is some information to get you started:
FAST FACTS:
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Kids who get to school actively focus better in class for up to 4 hours after they arrive (Denmark MASS Experiment 2012)
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When they can choose, most children prefer to walk or bike to school rather than take a bus or be driven (ParticipACTION)
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Kids who walk or bike to school tend to be more active during the whole day, not just during their commute to school (ParticipACTION)
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Biking or walking to school provides opportunities for children to practice and develop social skills (ParticipACTION)
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Vehicle emissions from school drop-off zones can cause long-term harm, particularly in smaller children (CTV News)
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Manitoba Education calls on schools to be "models of sustainable travel, where vehicles are used only when absolutely necessary." (Guide for Sustainable Schools in Manitoba)
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Driving kids to school actually puts children at greater risk of injury than other modes of travel. (Dr. Mariana Brussoni, B.C. Children's Hospital)
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The list of benefits of active play is long: improved social and motor skills, healthier body weights, lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, more energy, and less anxiety. (ParticipAction)
- Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba, which contributes to a more extreme and unpredictable climate for future generations. (Government of Manitoba)
