Staff and pupils from Lakeside Primary School in York are holding four days of travel activities from Monday (June 10) to celebrate Green Transport Week.

Events at the school in Clifton Moor include a visit from York's cycle paramedic, rickshaw rides, a sponsored walk and cycle to raise money for Macmillan Cancer relief, and a cycle maintenance session run by York Cycleworks.

Caroline Emmerson, City of York Council's school travel plan coordinator, said "The aim of the week is to raise awareness of sustainable forms of travel and promote alternatives to the car for the school run".

Ros Latham, Lakeside Primary School's head teacher, said, "The children are very excited about the week ahead. Many of them will be walking to school as a part of the travel week.

"The school is working with City of York Council to encourage more pupils to walk and cycle to school to improve the health and safety of all pupils as well as improve the local environment.

"The school is extremely pleased with the new cycle parking facility for pupils and staff provided by City of York Council which has helped encourage a five-fold increase in the number of pupils cycling to school on a regular basis".

Councillor Dave Merrett, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said, "I'd like to congratulate the school and all involved for this exciting initiative. I know from my previous visit what a buzz has been generated - the contribution to the children's health and spirit, almost leaving aside our important transport objectives, has been palpable.

"I'd hope parents, teachers and children in other York schools will follow this excellent example."

Children at Lakeside Primary are already involved in a unique experiment using pedometers to collect data on the amount of walking they do and the number of calories they burn up.

The aim of the project is to promote walking to school to reduce congestion and improve children's health by demonstrating the benefits of walking.

The 'school run' causes 20 percent of city traffic at peak times and walking to school has declined rapidly over the last decade. Today 48 percent of children walk to school today compared to 59 percent ten years ago.

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