Pupils from more than 100 schools across Scotland are taking part in a year-round challenge which rewards those who get active on the school run.
Organised by Living Streets, the charity for everyday walking, WOW is a pupil-led initiative in which children self-report how they get to school every day using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker.
If they travel sustainably (walk, cycle or scoot) once a week for a month, they are rewarded with a badge.
WOW has been operating in Scotland since 2007 – and Living Streets says the initiative is proven to increase walking rates by 23% and reduce the number of cars at school gates by 30% on average.
Lee Craigie, active nation commissioner, Scotland said: “We are all driven to protect the people we love. We are also hard wired to save ourselves time and effort. But driving our kids to schools is one of the most dangerous false economies we invent.
“By removing the simple daily pleasure of walking, cycling or wheeling to school, we miss the opportunity to instil in our kids patterns of everyday active behaviour that will improve and prolong their lives.
“Who doesn’t want that for the people they love?”
This year, more than 100 Scottish schools are taking part.
To officially launch the new school year, pupils from Papdale Primary in Orkney were joined by Strider, Living Streets’ mascot, and Yvonne Scott, Orkney Islands Council road safety officer, for an outdoor assembly in the school playground on 1 September.
Wendy Bowen, head teacher at Papdale Primary School, said: “We’ve been encouraging pupils at Papdale Primary School to get active for many years and have seen some great results.
“Taking part in WOW has been a huge part of this and helps us keep our children healthy and happy. We’re really excited to be starting a new year of WOW and the pupils can’t wait to see what’s in store – and start collecting their new badges.”
Yvonne Scott said: “Papdale pupils participated previously in 2019 and were extremely successful in increasing the active travel levels of pupils with sustainable choices of walking, cycling, scooting or parking and striding becoming very popular modal choices for the pupil’s commute to/from school.”
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