Travelsmart Noosa Schools
The TravelSmart Noosa Schools program is currently underway in six local schools
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TravelSmart Noosa Project Officers work closely with the school working group, comprised of students, teachers and parents, to develop a Green Travel Plan which is unique to each school.
The Green Travel Plan systematically looks at how students, parents and teachers are travelling to and from school and develops strategies that will encourage more walking, cycling, public transport and car pooling.
Why a Schools Program ?
Travelling Smart to school has many benefits including:
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Reduction in traffic congestion and parking problems around the school gate.
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Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
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Increase in health and fitness for students who Travelsmart to school.
Traffic around schools is one of the main drivers of congestion. If more people walked or cycled with their children to school, there would be less traffic and higher levels of surveillance making it safer for everyone.
TravelSmart Noosa School Activities
TravelSmart Stars Classroom Challenge
Students are encouraged to TravelSmart to school and the class with the highest percentage of students walking, cycling, car pooling and catching the bus to school wins a healthy lunch.
2008 5 Day TravelSmart Stars Classroom Challenge Results:
St Thomas More Primary School - 63.13% (one class recorded 97%)
Sunshine Beach State School - 76.87% (Only years 5/6 & 6/7 participated)
2007 5 Day Class Challenge Results:
Tewantin StateSchool - 81% of the students came to school using a TravelSmart mode.
Noosaville State School - 68% of the students came to school using a TravelSmart mode
Good Shepherd Lutheran College- 63% of the students come to school using a TravelSmart mode.
2006 10 Day Class Challenge Results:
Tewantin State School- 89% of the students came to school using a TravelSmart mode
Noosaville State School- 79% of the students came to school using a TravelSmart mode
Good Shepherd Lutheran College- 70% of the students came to school using a TravelSmart mode
Cycle Skills Training
The 3hr program is run by accredited Cycle Skills coach. Students are taught basic bike handling skills and safe practices for riding on cycle paths.
In the first year of the program, Cycle Skills is conducted with all Year 4, 5, 6 & 7 students, and in subsequent years, Cycle Skills is conducted with all Year 4 students.
Cycle Skills Parent Program Outline (1.48MB)
Axel & Bell Safe Cycling Checklist (1.8MB)
Helmet On Ready to Ride Brochure (2MB)
Hands Up! Surveys
St Thomas More Primary School does the Hands Up! TravelSmart count once a month. The survey asks students how they came to school - either by bike, walking, bus, carpool or car.
During Term 2 in 2008 the students of St Thomas More were surveyed three times. The results of these surveys are shown in the graphs below:
It is encouraging to see increases in bus travel from 20% to 26% and walking/cycling from 10% to 14%, and a decrease in travel to school by private car from 52% to 43%.
Walk & Ride to School Breakfasts
Families are encouraged to walk/ride to school with their children and enjoy a healthy TravelSmart breakfast.
TravelsmART Competition and Noosa Regional Gallery TravelSmart Noosa family day
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Students with an artisitic flair paint what it means to be TravelSmart. In 2007 the winning two designs were made into a T-shirt!
TravelSmart song competition
In June 2007, budding music composers at St Thomas More School were given the opportunity to shine through participating in the TravelSmart Music Competition. The competition was open to solo artists and small groups to create, compose and perform a TravelSmart jingle, reflecting what TravelSmart is about.
Click here to listen to the winning entries.
TravelSmart Noosa Schools Results
In order to measure reductions in the Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) to and from the school gate, the TravelSmart Noosa Schools Program conducts Travel Surveys. The Before Travel Survey is conducted at the commencement of the schools program and the After Travel survey is conducted 12 months later. Schools are surveyed every two years.
2007 Travel Survey Results
Between March and November 2007, Tewantin State School, Noosaville State School and Good Shepherd Lutheran College combined had a 20% reduction in car use, a 41% increase in car pooling, a 6% increase in both walking and cycling and a 2% increase in public transport.
2005 Travel Survey Results
In 2005, Tewantin State School, Noosaville State School and Good Shepherd Lutheran College participated in the TravelSmart Schools program in conjunction with Queensland Transport and Noosa Council.
In 2005, across the three schools there was an average saving of 165 tonnes of CO2 emissions and a 31% reduction in vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT).
