Leeds school pupils step to it
Published on: 26th August 2011
Pupils across Leeds have been putting the leg work in this year as Leeds has come out with one of the highest walking to school figures.
The annual school census results show Leeds schools having the biggest increase in walking across all English core cities except one. Between 2007 and 2011 walking to school in Leeds rose by an impressive 4.5%, meaning 3,900 more children are taking big strides and getting to school on foot every day.
The council offer continued support for safe and sustainable transport initiatives like the annual Walk to School Week in May, the child pedestrian skills training program, and walking buses.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for development said:
“It is a great result that more pupils in Leeds schools are choosing to walk to school. This means ever greater numbers of children are getting more regular exercise, improving road safety awareness and skills, and spending more time with friends than if they were being driven to class.
“In transport terms there are fewer cars on the school run helping to ease congestion and improve air quality and safety around schools.”
• The Government's annual school census reports the mode of travel to school for each pupil in the country.
• Walking in Leeds schools has risen from 47.9% in 2007 to 52.4% in 2011.
• The eight Core Cities are Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham and Manchester.
• The only better result was recorded in Bristol who increased walking by 6.1% over the same period.
