Walking "buses" are just the ticket!

5.56.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 20th May 2007

To avoid adding to carbon emissions, hop on a bus - a "walking bus" that is! They'll be a familiar sight in the borough next week, which is Walk to School Week.

As part of its drive to promote sustainable travel, Richmond Council's Safety Education Team is backing the special week, supported by dozens of borough schools. Children are being encouraged to walk to school to boost the environment - and their health. As a "walking bus" children follow a set, safety checked route to school under the supervision of police-cleared volunteers. Safety guidelines are followed very closely with everybody wearing yellow tabards. Parents put their children on the "bus" at set stopping places along the route.

Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, Cllr David Trigg, said:

"The Council does everything it can to encourage sustainable travel, particularly walking and cycling. And Walk to School Week is a marvellous, thriving initiative, and I am delighted so many of our schools are supporting it. It's very encouraging to see the drop in the number of cars around school premises as a result."