Okanagan Landing STP Committee
School Travel Planning brings community together to develop the best active routes to and from school. Benefits are:
- Increased physical activity for good health
- Reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality
- Safer Neighbourhoods
City of Vernon has completed three School Travel Plans for
Ellison,
Harwood and
OKL elementary schools and currently working on Mission Hill and Silver Star Elementary School.
Part of the process of developing a STP is determining what barriers there are to prevent children from walking and biking to school. With the parent survey s, walkabout, traffic observations and discussion groups, the STP Committee identifies the hot spots of the school neighbourhood. City engineering staff then determines what infrastructure suits the neighbourhoods and plans for upgrades in the school neighbourhood that will help to increase safer intersections, walking and cycling routes.
Education to students and parents about the benefits of active routes to school and help slow down traffic speeds at school zones. One creative way to interact students and parents is the development of the School Traffic Sign contest where children enter a contest to get a safe message to drivers. The winning poster placed under the school traffic signs in the school neighbourhood.
Other ways to help educate students and parents are creating and implementing a Walking School Bus. This process works in partnership with the School Parent Advisory Committee or the Healthy School Committee at your school.
Walking School Buses have several benefits:
» It’s fun, safe and supervised
» Meet new friends & enjoy the outdoors
» Gain more energy and be healthy
» Increases school readiness (children are ready to settle and learn)
» Cleaner air in the school area and less traffic and
» Save money $$$
Other ways which keep children active hosing events such as:
- Bike to School Week,
- Clean Air Day,
- Car Free Day and International Walk to School Month in October.
