Leeds pupils ditch the car for safety day

Pupils and parents make their way to school - but not by the usual transport mode.

Students from Kippax North Junior School took part in a day full of activities to promote sustainable travel and road safety.

Parents were encouraged to leave their car at home and either walk, scoot or cycle to school.

Those parents and children who travelled by a sustainable mode of transport were then treated to a free breakfast.

Throughout the day pupils took part in numerous road safety and sustainable travel activities including cycle and scooter skills sessions, roller bike races, balance bike training, bike fixing, and a road safety quiz.

The event, organised by Leeds City Council’s influencing travel behaviour team was arranged to celebrate the school’s participation in the Access to Education Project funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund - a partnership between the council and Sustrans, to tackle congestion on some of the major roads into Leeds.

The school are also celebrating achieving a Modeshift STARS Silver Award earlier this year for promoting sustainable travel.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, who attended the event and presented the prizes, said the day was a huge success.

“It was great to see so many children who are really enthusiastic about getting on their bikes and scooters and leaving the car behind,” said councillor Pryor.

“Kippax North is a great example of a school which is actively promoting sustainable travel, active lifestyles and road safety awareness to children and their parents.

“This is helping reduce the number of cars on the school run, therefore easing congestion at the school gates.”