Active School Travel Peterborough
Active School Travel Peterborough believes that kids and families deserve safe routes to walk, bike and roll starting with the journey to school itself.
Our mission is simple; we promote the use of active and sustainable transportation for the daily trip to school, which addresses health and traffic safety issues while taking action on air pollution and climate change. Each year, we work with schools in the city and county of Peterborough to implement programs that lower barriers and help encourage students to bike, walk, roll or bus to school.
AST Peterborough is a committee made up of representatives of GreenUP, Peterborough Public Health, the City of Peterborough, the County of Peterborough, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board, Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario, Peterborough Police, and The Crossing Guards of Peterborough.
Active School Travel Events
Grade 8 Transit Quest
School Trip by Transit
School Walk Zone Support
Active School Travel Peterborough Intake Form
Active School Travel Peterborough believes that kids and families deserve safe routes to walk, bike, and roll to school. We support schools in helping to educate and encourage their communities to walk, roll, or bus to school, promoting healthier kids and safer school zones for all.
The many benefits of supporting walking, biking and rolling to school:
Healthier Children
Active school travel helps school-aged children meet the recommendation to accumulate at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which is associated with improved physical and mental health.
Safer School Zones
Reducing traffic volumes creates safer school zones and saves school staff time. Improving walking and cycling routes to school also enhances the safety, connectivity, and quality of life for the community as a whole.
Less Traffic and Pollution
Reducing the number of children being driven to school reduces greenhouse gas emissions and particulate air pollution around the school; this improves air quality and reduces associated risks of lung and cardiovascular diseases.
Better Academic Performance
Increased physical activity specifically associated with the school journey increases alertness and attention during the school day. Physical activity supports healthy brain development, which can lead to improved learning and academic outcomes.
Learn more about how supporting active school travel helps entire communities become safer by reading our article here.
Benefits observed by parents, teachers, and students involved in our programs:
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- Students become more familiar with their communities and routes to school
- Students build their road sense, learning about traffic and bicycle safety
- Students arrive to school more alert and ready to learn
- Families build daily physical activity into a busy schedule
- Families have positive impacts on air and noise pollution by reducing car use
- Communities increase the amount of time they spend with each other, making new friends and connections
School Programs
Transit Programs
Bike Riding Education Programs
Program History
Active School Travel Peterborough (formerly Active and Safe Routes to School Peterborough) was established in 1999 to address health and environmental issues related to school travel. The Active School Travel Committee creates and collaborates on programs and projects with a vision of ‘All students having the opportunity to walk, bike or bus to and from school as a part of their daily school experience’.
Our goals include:
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- Increase community capacity to advance the use of walking, biking and bussing;
- Advocate for policy and infrastructure that facilitates walking, biking and bussing;
- Increase awareness and understanding, in the broader community, of the importance of active lifestyles and the supporting built environment; and,
- Improve community safety as it relates to walking, biking, and bussing to and from school.
Program Contact Information
Contact Active School Travel
Phone: (705)745-3238
Email: activeschooltravel@greenup.on.ca
Partners
Peterborough Police
County of Peterborough
Crossing Guards of Peterborough
Peterborough Transit
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
Peterborough Public Health
City of Peterborough
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario
STSCO oversees student transportation for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board and Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-Sud. They are responsible for the integrated planning and provision of service for students from all three Boards.
The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board serves the Municipality of Clarington, Northumberland County and Peterborough County.
Peterborough Public Health offers a wide range of programs and services to improve the living conditions of those in need for the benefit of all. From health risk prevention to promoting healthy lifestyles, Health Unit staff work around the clock to keep our community safe and strong.
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) provides education to approximately 15,000 students in 30 elementary and 6 secondary school communities within an area of 10,000 square km.
That area includes the City of Peterborough, the County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and the Municipality of Clarington.
Peterborough Transit serves the City of Peterborough, Ontario with regular and Handi-Van transit services.
The Crossing Guards of Peterborough are employees of the City of Peterborough and are sanctioned under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act to direct children across a public highway at a designated school crossing. Our mandate is to assist elementary school children in crossing the road to and from school safely. The Crossing Guards of Peterborough have been entrusted with this responsibility since 1965.
The Peterborough Police Service provide services in the following key areas of Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement, Victim Assistance, Public Order and Maintenance, Emergency Response, and Administration and Infrastructure.
The City of Peterborough supports GreenUP through an annual Community Service Grant. This funding supports many of our programs and services which positively impact Peterborough residents each day.
The County of Peterborough is an upper tier municipality that is responsible for a range of municipal services that affect the citizens of Peterborough County. These services include: Planning, GIS, Administration and Council Services, Human Resources, Purchasing, Finance, IT, EMS, and Public Works.