By Laura Michell
A program aimed at encouraging more children to walk to school has helped ease notorious congestion problems at an Epping school.
Epping Views Primary School was one of two primary schools selected to take part in VicHealth’s Change to Walking trial earlier this year, with the aim of encouraging children to be more active.
Throughout the six-week program, students were asked to walk, cycle or scoot to school at least one more day a week.
As a result, the school noticed a significant drop in traffic around the school.
As reported by Star Weekly, the Mansfield Street school has been plagued by traffic and parking problems in recent years, as the roads around it struggle to cope with the volume of cars being driven to the school every morning and afternoon.
The school was built to accommodate about 400 pupils but about 1400 pupils are presently enrolled.
VicRoads has been asked to assess the situation around Epping Views Primary School and make suggestions on how the traffic flow can be improved.
Principal Pauline Kubat said that six months on from the VicHealth trial, she was still noticing a reduction in congestion as more families realised that walking to school was better than getting caught up in traffic.
“There has been a noticeable improvement,” she said. “Some parents are choosing to park a couple of streets back and walk the rest of the way.”
VicHealth said 10 per cent of Epping Views parents found it quicker to walk to school than drive during the trial.
