A pilot project in Windsor, Leamington, Essex and Amherstburg encourages more kids to walk, run, bike, or skateboard to school.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit received a $60,000 grant from Green Communities Canada to support active travel initiatives.
Students at King Edward Public School, Talbot Trail Public School and Ecole Monseigneur Jean-Noel in Windsor, Margaret D. Bennie Public School in Leamington, Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School in Essex and Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School in Amherstburg are participating in the pilot project. In addition to providing them with bike safety training sessions and new bike racks, a survey revealed how they get to school each day, and checks were conducted for bike and walkability along common routes.
Getting kids more active is only part of the objective. Health Promotion Specialist Kevin Morse hopes it will ultimately reduce traffic around schools before and after class as more kids opt to walk or bike. Traffic around schools is an ongoing safety concern at many schools in the region.
On Tuesday, grades five and six students took part in bike training with Bike Windsor-Essex to ensure when they do ride, they do so safely.
"Learning to ride a bicycle is a vital life skill that teaches children valuable physical and mental skills and helps them develop confidence," said Executive Director Lori Newton. "Studies show that children who ride their bikes to school arrive more focused and ready to learn."
Last October, Green Communities Canada invited communities across Ontario to apply for funding to support active transportation initiatives for school-aged children. The Ontario Active School Travel Fund has provided $2.1-million since its inception in 2018.