Travel Planning What are the benefits? Improved safety and reduced car congestion near schools at peak times Improved air quality, energy saving and reduction in noise level Exercise before and after school improves readiness for learning Social activity for children and parents Active travel to and from school promotes independence and self-confidence Being a responsible future thinking school Cost savings for parents and teachers that provide wider transport choices for the school community. What does a travel plan look like? Depending on the location and size of a school, travel plans will vary. For some it will be a written document signed off by the board of trustees, while for others it will be a statement of intent. It will change over time and needs to be flexible to accommodate our changing environments. A travel plan is an active process. The Let’s Go team will work with you to decide what will work best for your school setting What is required from a school? Travel planning starts with the willingness to bring about change and commitment to reduce the number of car journeys to and from school. This involves an analysis of how students and staff are travelling to and from school. To make travel planning successful, we will ask how a school can support students and staff to utilise active forms of transport such as walking, cycling, ridesharing and using public transport. This can involve: Creating accessible bike storage/lock up facilities We suggest you identify champions and key personnel to drive initiatives at your school Develop an active travel culture throughout the school Look at how your school can support its students to utilise other forms of transport such as walking, cycling, using the bus and ride sharing Safe route maps for cyclist and pedestrians Cycle skill training sessions Regular in-house competitions with spot prizes to promote active transport. What support will the Let’s Go team provide? We will provide a free Starter Pack full of tips and suggestions. Council expertise, such as engineering and geospatial mapping. Free delivery of NZTA Grade 1 Cyclist Skills Training programme and scooter skills programme for primary schools. Support from the Let’s Go Travel Planner every step of the way, and potential financial support with minor infrastructure upgrades near your school. Incentive schemes such as merchandise and spot prizes. Improved public infrastructure for safer and easier walking and cycling throughout the Whanganui District. Links to further NZTA Grade 2 Cyclist Skills Training programmes, competition, club and community events.