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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 26, 2008 - 31 Kids usually want to walk, ride or cycle rather than drive "W hen I was your age, I used to walk three hours to school every day. Barefoot. Through the snow. Uphill. Both ways." While parents and grandparents may exaggerate just a little, the truth is, most did walk or bike to school. Today the situation is much different. Many children and their families choose not to walk, ride or use other forms of active transportation to travel to and from schools or other activities. A report by the Centre for Sustainable Transportation (2003) compared children's travel patterns in Halton and Peel regions between 1986 and 2001. In 2001, young people were doing more of their travelling by car, either as passengers or drivers. Forty-two per cent of trips by 11 to 15-year-olds were by car, compared with only 27 percent of such trips in 1986. Some of the barriers to active, childfriendly transportation cited include: · lack of sidewalks and bike paths · traffic safety and security fears · lack of other transportation options. Monica Marquis of the Halton Active Living Network (HALNet), a community group of organizations and individuals that encourages the adoption of active lifestyles, suggests that lack of time is the number one reason people in Halton are not more physically active. Despite increasing demands on their time, according to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (www.aboutkidshealth.ca), there are things families can do right now to promote a more active transportation lifestyle. This is not a comprehensive list, but these ideas may help you get started: · When transporting children, consider travelling on foot or by bicycle instead of by car. · Let children choose. Given the choice, many children would prefer to walk, bicycle or in-line skate instead of driving. · Help children find the best routes to where they want to go and teach them how to get around safely. · Start teaching children how to use public transit at a young age. · Participate in Car-Free Days. Encourage your neighbours and co-workers to participate as well. · When driving, respect cyclists and pedestrians. Respect the speed limit, especially in residential areas. · Get involved in making your child's school safer for children on foot. Try to get the school to give priority to pedestrians instead of cars and reduce idling and traffic congestion at drop-off points. Above all else, be a role model for your children. Choosing active transportation today will ensure that they make smart choices in the future. One of the Choices 4 Health supported projects, Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS), a partnership between the Halton Regional Health Department and the Halton District School Board is working to address these concerns. "Walking" school buses see adult volunteers walk a route, picking up children along the way and taking them to school. International Walk to School Month is October, an excellent opportunity to use one of the many ASRTS initiatives which can be found on the Choices 4 Health website, to starting using active transportation. The Halton Active Living Network is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Choices 4 Health. For more information about the Halton Active Living Network, contact Monica Marquis at 905-845-3417 ext. 633. Choices 4 Health is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, community partners and the Halton Region Health Department. 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