Fife News : Bus Without Wheels Hits Primary in a Big Way!

         St Serf's Primary School - Walking Bus

St Serf's Primary School in High Valleyfield celebrated the launch of their school travel plan recently by holding a special service hosted by four of their own Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs). The officers entertained and informed their fellow pupils with reasons why they should stay active on their way to school, emphasising the safety benefits of reducing car traffic around schools. 

The result of two years work, the school's travel plan was put together by the pupils and members of the St Serfs Travel Action Group, made up of parents and guided by teacher Mrs Claire Mason.

 Assistance was provided along the way by members of Fife Council's Transportation Services, and Fife Constabulary's Road Safety Unit. 

By mapping school walking/cycling routes, surveying the pupils as well as their parents and listening to focus groups, the issues faced by those participating in active travel were clearly illuminated.  

The Plan, colourfully illustrated by future artists the pupils, provides practical measures to reduce car usage such as the setting up of a ‘walking bus', road safety education, cycle training and safer access to the entry and exit points of the school.  

After an electrifying recital of a song composed by one of their fellow pupils, the children led the teachers and members of both Transportation and Education services in an attempt to be part of the world's largest walking bus.  

Schools Travel Plan Coordinator Matthew MacDonald said: "This school is a fantastic example of what is possible with an effective Travel Plan. They already had 80 per cent of pupils walking to school but are not resting on their laurels and I believe they will successfully increase the number of pupils choosing Active Travel over sitting in the car with their parents. Once the cycle training starts, who knows you may even see them reach the magical 100 percent."  

The picture is of the pupils, led by the JRSOs and teachers, attempting to break the world record for number of people in a walking bus.

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