Member Article

Medals to reward pupil pedal power

Pupils at primary schools across Darlington that walk, cycle or take a bus rather than travel to school by car are to be rewarded with medals. Children from 30 schools have been invited to take part in a new initiative called Medal Motion. The scheme aims to build on the success of last year’s Walk to School Week, which saw more than 3,000 children across the Borough walking to lessons. Starting today, the initiative will last for three weeks, ending on Friday June 9. Every day, the children taking part will write or draw an entry in their individual Medal Motion diaries, showing how they got to school. During half term, the children will be asked to write or draw one special journey that they made on foot, by bike or on public transport during the holiday. Bronze medals will be given to those who have walked, cycle or travelled by bus to school for five days, silver will be awarded to children who have walked, cycle or travelled by bus for 10 days and gold to those who took part for 10 days and made a special journey by foot, bike or bus during the holidays.All medal winners will also get a certificate and their names will go into a draw to win passes to the Railway Centre and Museum and a new bike. Nick Wallis, Darlington Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “I hope that the Medal Motion initiative encourages families to leave their cars at home. “Walking is a good way for families to spend time together, stay healthy and help the environment. “Just a small change like walking to school a couple of days a week will help Darlington become a happier, healthier place.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .