Archive for January, 2015

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Wednesday, January 21st, 2015

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Public Transport Tips

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Wait until the bus has stopped before standing up or getting off. If the bus is full and you have to stand on the journey, use the hand holds, and move as far down the bus as possible to let other people get on and off.

 

Drivers need to concentrate – don’t distract them while the vehicle is moving and don’t stand where you will block their view.

 

Stay safe at bus stops – stand well back from the edge of the road while you are waiting, especially if it’s crowded. Don’t push people or play around.

 

Cross safely- when you have got off the bus, wait until it has moved away from the stop before trying to cross so that you can see traffic clearly.

 

If you feel unsafe or are worried about something that has happened on the bus then tell the driver and also tell your parents, or your teacher if it is a school bus.

 

Lost your bus pass or money? – speak to the driver or someone at school if you need to travel today.

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Cycle Tips

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Your brain is important! – Always wear a cycle helmet, no matter how short the journey. Make sure it fits you properly, always fasten it securely, and replace it if it gets damaged.

 

Make sure drivers can see you – wear or carry something bright or fluorescent in the daytime and something reflective when it’s dark. You also need lights on your bike when it’s dark and in bad weather.

 

Stay alert – Keep checking around you for traffic, especially before riding out into a road from a driveway, path or side road, and always before changing direction. Don’t ride with headphones or use a mobile – you need all your senses to stay safe.

 

Ride safely and confidently – find out about National Standards training courses. Ask at school or check with the council. Level 3 training will teach you how to cope with busier roads and more complex junctions.

 

Stay in control – Don’t carry passengers on your bike or hang heavy bags on your handlebars as they will affect your balance. Put your stuff in a rucksack or use a rack or pannier bags on the back of your bike.

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Walk Tips

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Always walk on the pavement if there is one. On roads with no pavement or verge, keep in close to the edge and walk on the right hand side so you can see the traffic coming towards you.

 

Be safe, be seen – Help drivers to see you. Wear or carry something brightly coloured or fluorescent during the day. In the dark, wear something reflective.

 

Switch off before you step off – Make sure you can see and hear what’s going on around you. Stop mobile calls or texting and take off headphones before crossing the road.

 

Find somewhere safe to cross – use a crossing, bridge or subway if there’s one available. Otherwise choose somewhere where you can see traffic clearly, and drivers can see you. At night, try to cross near a street light.

 

Plan your journey –The safest way is to walk as part of a group or where other people will be around, such as a main route to school. If you’re walking alone, plan where you’re going and how to get there. Walk confidently and let someone know where you’re going and what time you’ll be back. If it’s getting dark, stick to busy well-lit places.

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Environment

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Cars and other motor vehicles produce gases when they burn petrol or diesel. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to global warming. Exhaust fumes also contain carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals which are harmful to our planet and our health, causing breathing problems and even some cancers. When you are a passenger in a vehicle you can actually be exposed to 3 times more fumes than if you are walking or cycling.

Petrol and diesel are made from oil, which is a ‘fossil fuel’. There is only a limited amount left in the world, and it is getting harder to get it out from under the ground. (One of the reasons it is getting so expensive.) Perhaps in your lifetime there will be no more oil available, so scientists and engineers are busy looking for new ways to power vehicles – including solar, electricity, bio-fuels, hydrogen, even water!

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Health

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

You keep your skin clean. You condition your hair. You’re eating right. You’re doing all you can to look and feel great. But are you missing out on an important part of a healthier lifestyle?

No matter what your age or shape, you should exercise daily. Not only does exercise tone your body so you can wear your favorite jeans, it strengthens your muscles, keeps your bones strong, and improves your skin. And there are more benefits of exercise — increased relaxation, better sleep and mood, strong immune function, and more.

In addition, exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and helps it receive oxygen and nutrients. The better shape you’re in, the faster you fire brain waves that are responsible for quick thinking. So, for example, if maths is a real problem, you may find that daily exercise, such as walking or cycling to school helps to solve it!

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Safety

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

However you travel, take responsibility for your own safety. Don’t let your phone, games or music (or even your friends!) distract you from what’s going on around you.

When it comes to so-called accidental deaths, such as fire, drowning, poisoning or  falls, traffic kills far more children and young people (excepting babies) than all of  these events combined. Four out of five deaths of 10-19 year olds (excepting deaths  from illness) are in road crashes. (see www.brake.org.uk )

Do some research before a new journey – plan routes and identify places where you  might need to take extra care. Allow plenty of time to get there. If you are going by  public transport, check the times and stops carefully. Always have a back-up plan in  case there are problems.

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Home Banner

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Whether you are going to school, visiting friends or heading for the shops, there are choices to be made about the way you travel. Here at SmartRoute we want to help you make these decisions for yourself.

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Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

MOVING TO SECONDARY SCHOOL

Most of us can remember our first day at a new school, often for all the wrong reasons! You can help your son or daughter have a positive experience by thinking about that first day well in advance. The journey to a new school is often overlooked in the flurry of buying uniforms and sorting out timetables, but it is a really important factor in making a good start.

You may have already made decisions about travelling to school, but do have a look at this site with your child and discuss the issues it raises. Many young people see the start of secondary school as an opportunity to spread their wings a little, and start doing things for themselves. However, they (and you!) may not be quite ready to launch off into the streets without some help or guidance.

 

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

Unfortunately out children live a far more sedentary age than we did at their age, spending far more time playing computer games, watching TV or travelling by car than they do being active. As they grow up this can lead to all sorts of problems, from unhealthy weight to heart disease or diabetes in adult life. It may not always be obvious, as many of these conditions are not visible from the outside – out children don’t necessarily look ‘overweight’, but they are storing up problems for their futures.

The journey to school is an ideal time to build in some every day exercise, such as walking, cycling, or even scooting (yes, some secondary students do use scooters to get to school!), keeping our children fit and healthy now, but also introducing them to healthy lifestyles for their futures.

 

SAFETY CONCERNS

One of the main reasons parents give for driving their children to school is concerns for their safety, either from traffic or from ‘strangers’. However, figures show that children are far more likely to be injured as passengers in cars than when walking out or cycling. In addition, they don’t have the opportunity to learn the skills to keep themselves safe for when they do need to travel independently. When more people walk and cycle around a local area, the streets become much safer for everyone. Encourage your child to take a training course. All Swindon primary schools offer pedestrian and cycle training, and we can arrange cycle training for secondary school students and adults upon request.

Help them to understand the rules of the road, and what to do to keep themselves safe when walking or using public transport. Provide safety equipment such as hi-vis items and cycle helmets, and encourage them to use them. Don’t be too heavy-handed – it’s better for a young cyclist to choose to wear a helmet every time for themselves rather than have to take it off round the corner once they are out of sight!

If you have any specific concerns about safety on the journey to school, contact your child’s school and ask them to raise it as part of their travel plan. Alternatively, contact us direct at stars@swindon.gov.uk.

 

CAR SHARING

One way of reducing the cost and impact of travelling to school by car is to car share. You could arrange to travel with friends or neighbours who are going to the same school, or perhaps onwards to the same workplace. If you don’t know anyone locally, ask around at the school induction events or signup to the website www.carshareswindon.com.

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Walk Why

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

Walking is totally free – the average family school run by car costs £500 per year.

 

It’s easy and convenient – you don’t have to wait for a lift – you can walk whenever and wherever you want (within reason!) and you don’t need any special kit.

 

You can walk with friends, family, or by yourself – your choice.

 

It’s good for the planet – you don’t use up fossil fuels or cause pollution when you walk. Just remember not to drop your litter on the way!

 

It’s good for you – simple everyday exercise to fit in with your life.

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