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What the schools say

How have the schools in the Northern Ireland Rural SRS project benefitted?

We thought it best to ask them!

The Pupils

"I think that the new signs that flash when the children are all coming out and in are great so there will be no accidents caused on the road." Ellen Quinn P.7

Overflowing bike sheds at St Marys Derrytrasna "Sustrans made our school better by putting up a bike shed for our school pupils to cycle to and from school. Also there are flashing lights to warn drivers that children our coming in and out of our school. Thank you Sustrans." Grace Blaney P.6

"The work Sustrans have done around our school is great, because now we can cross the road safely, lights flash to warn drivers that we're coming out of school, and we can put our bicycles in a place where we know they're free from harm." Ailís Stevenson P.7

"I love coming to school on my bike along the new track and waving to my friends while they're walking. It's great being in charge of the “Walking/Biking Chart” because everyone loves telling me whether they've walked or cycled." By Cameron

"I like looking at all the trees and flowers when I'm walking to school and talking to my friends down the way." By Kyle

"I like walking with Matthew to school and the fresh air. I'm more ready to work and Cameron said to-day that I was working really well. Gareth I love walking because you get loads of fresh air and the oxygen keeps us living. I love feeling the wind on my face as it blows my hair back and sometimes I see new things like hedgehogs." By Andrew

The Teachers

"On a grey, cold January morning we wanted to let you know just how much this Sustrans project is benefiting our community here at Killylea Primary School! Despite miserable weather our target of 50% of children walking or biking to school has been achieved.

"It's just delightful to see fitter and more alert, rosy-faced children arriving in our classrooms and with far less cars at the school gates the reduction in pollution is an added bonus for the whole community!

"Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to really make a difference to the lives of our children!"

Margaret Kelsall, Killylea Primary School, Armagh

Road crossing made easy at Kilbride Central Primary

"Kilbride Central Primary School has been involved with Sustrans since May 2007. The benefits and changes in attitudes by parents, pupils and staff have been exceptional.

"Weekly “Walking Buses”, assisted by staff and parents, have been a phenomenal success with up to 95% of pupils walking to school especially during our monthly special events such as the “Spooky Stroll”, “Santa Stroll” and “Welly Walk” to name but a few!

"A “Bikers' Breakfast” also saw over 90% of pupils cycling to school and tucking into a special breakfast on arrival. Chain Reaction supplied “Bike Doctors” to check all cycles. The resulting reduction in congestion outside the school has been most noticeable.

"Our “Feet First” Working Party meet regularly to plan events and take the project forward. In the long term we hope to see healthier pupils who will benefit from a newly installed cycle shed and DRD road improvements including crossings, footpath and flashing warning lights for motorists.

Our recommendation would be to get involved now and reap the very worthwhile benefits of this scheme."

Gail Ferguson, Principal, Kilbride Central Primary

Evaluation and results

Throughout the project, schools have been recording the changes in travel behavior, once a month, and sometimes more. Each pupil, parent and teacher filled in a questionnaire in May 2007, and this process has now been repeated. The results of this will be released in Autumn 2008.

Launches

The schemes have received overwhelming support from both within the schools and in the wider community. Many of the schools have formally launched the initiatives, inviting special guests and the school community to take part in the celebrations of opening cycle sheds and cycle paths!

Government Ministers help St Marys Derrytrasna to officially open their Safe Routes to School Initiative June 2008

Above - DRD Minister, Conor Murphy (2nd left), and DARD Minister, Michell Gildernew (3rd from right) help St Marys Derrytrasna to officially open the Safe Routes to School Initiative June 2008. Also pictured from left are Joan Aldridge, the Principal, Ellen Quinn and Kevin Aldridge (Y7 pupils) and Sustrans' Jill McDonald.

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