TipiHaere
TravelWell

When children scoot, ride or walk to school they benefit from being active and it helps the community by reducing traffic congestion.

Travel well logo.

Every day over 30,000 students travel to and from schools throughout Wellington City. Supporting active travel is one of ways the Council helps to make this journey safe, reduce traffic congestion and encourage sustainable transport choices.

Sustainable travel

Parents, caregivers, the school and the community, can work together to support active, safe and sustainable travel to and from school. 

You can begin by asking students, and their parents, how they travel to school, how they would like to travel to school, and about safety issues they have encountered on their journeys. The results can help the school community decide what actions they can take to improve on this.

Over 30 schools in Wellington have now engaged in active school travel planning. Their feedback on the benefits includes:

  • increased physical activity and better concentration in class
  • improved student independence
  • the opportunity to engage with the wider community
  • improved congestion and safety outside the school gate 
  • a wider range of travel options were made available.

Initiatives that work

These are some of the initiatives that schools have been involved in to improve safety and encourage active transport modes.

  • themed in-school projects such as Walk ‘n Wheel Week, Movin’ March or No-car November
  • improved parent parking practices through Kiss & Drop-off zones and student valet services
  • park and stride schemes – encouraging parents to drop students off further from the school to reduce the congestion around the school gate
  • identify and reduce the barriers to active travel
  • road safety projects as part of an enquiry-based learning
  • free bicycle skills training provided by Pedal Ready
  • helping our young people to have biking access and support through Bikes in Schools
  • walking school buses.

The Council works with schools to identify any issues and improve safety on the roads around their school. This includes encouraging parents to drive and park safely near the school.

Other initiatives include installing active school warning signs, and improved safety infrastructure such as access and crossing points.

Scooter skills with Micro Scooters

Introducing younger children to scooters helps to promote active travel and gives them a basic understanding of road safety and injury prevention. It’s a great introduction to active commuting and complements the Pedal Ready cycle skills training for older students.

The Micro Scooter safety programme aims to:

  • encourage safe scooting to/from school
  • emphasise the importance of wearing a correctly fitted helmet and appropriate clothing
  • teach practical handling skills and quick stopping
  • increase traffic awareness (sneaky driveways and crossing skills)
  • improve footpath etiquette
  • provide information to students and parents.

Start active school travel planning at your school

To discuss how to start active school travel planning at your school email sustainable.transport@wcc.govt.nz.

You can also talk to other schools about what they have done, and what has worked well.

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