TravelSmart Programs for Students
The TravelSmart to School Program focuses on students as leaders. It provides information and tools to help drive student understanding and support choices around sustainable, healthy and effective transportation options. Students not only make personal choices to be TravelSmart, they drive this change throughout their communities! By personally implementing increased walking, cycling, transit and ride-sharing practices to get to school, and promoting these options to others, students have the power to influence their peers, schools and neighbourhoods to the benefit of all.
2010 Winter Olympics Pilot
Ten schools made up of 3,670 students participated in a 2009-2010 TravelSmart to School pilot. 1,275 students pledged to TravelSmart during the 2010 Winter Olympics and achieved the goal of reducing vehicle traffic to their schools by 30% during the Games!
International Walk to School Week
A yearly initiative that TravelSmart actively supports is the International Walk to School Week (IWTSW). To encourage students to walk, cycle or take transit to school, elementary and high school students with a valid GoCard ride transit for free during that week. Many classes create their own projects around this international program to demonstrate the importance of sustainable transportation and the power and efficiency of being TravelSmart. This includes many schools and classes taking field trips using active transportation options.
Current Programs
TransLink has both elementary and highschool TravelSmart programs to help students understand and make TravelSmart choices that help them get to school more efficiently and, as always, safely. For more information on programs or tools and information which can be used anywhere from in-class, or as ideas for special school events please contact info@travelsmart.ca.
Does your school offer TravelSmart programs or practices you’d like to share with others? Or have you and any student groups been instrumental in creating TravelSmart initiatives in your school? Leave a comment to help other students develop their own plans and practices!