Mosman Council finds no interest in official walk to school program

MOSMAN Council has abandoned plans for an official walk to school program because of a lack of support from primary schools in the area.

Cars line up in Mosman to pick up children after school. Picture: Adam Ward

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MOSMAN Council has found insufficient interest from schools to implement a walk to school or active transport to school program in Mosman.

A report on the outcome of council’s investigation into the idea, first considered in 2010, was noted at a recent Traffic Committee meeting.

Pictures for story about Mosman Council motion to encourage and facilitate children to use active transport to get to school (e.g. walking, cycling, scootering). Pictured: Paul Evans walking his children Bennett ,7, and Jazmin ,9. to Mosman Public School. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG

Council’s research found various concerns about “walking buses”: groups of children walking together from designated points with adult supervision.

Issues included: uncertainty about public liability insurance and the potential impact on council’s insurance premiums, parental concern for children’s safety, and schools hesitant to participate because of the need to organise volunteers, manage potential risk and the low take-up of the program by parents.

Mosman Public School is getting ready for "Walk to School Day". (left) Alastair Fried 9, Max Luker 9, Ellie Buchanan 9 and Pippa Buchanan 9.

Council also found that schools already have walk to school days, encourage walking to school regularly and offer road safety education.

A spokeswoman for Mosman Public’s P&C said the P&C fully supported the walk to school program and children already participated in walking buses and walk to school days.

“The P&C would support a lollipop person at the new crossing on the corner of Gouldsbury St and Military Rd, adjacent to Bonza Brats,” she said.

##FACES PIXELATED## Mosman Council has found there isn't enough support for an official Walk to School or Active to School program in Mosman after surveying all the schools. Issues include public liability insurance and parents concerned for kids' safety! School 3:15pm afternoon pick-up time at Mosman Public school.

Council consulted all primary schools in Mosman.

Council will continue providing schools with road safety education resources and implementing specific road safety issues.

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