Yesterday (22 January 2024), around 50 pupils took part in a silent disco at Clepington Primary School after joining the new walking bus initiative that is running daily at the school.
The bus runs to and from school, every day on a north and south bus route. The partners involved are Active Schools, Clepington Primary School, Active Travel, Living Streets and Dundee City Council who have come together to make this possible.
The walking bus at the school began after they started running a weekly active travel committee with the support of the city's Active Travel Team. One class representative from each class P4-7 makes up the committee.
They look to promote active travel and reduce traffic around the school. They have also been involved with setting up the school's walk travel tracker challenge. The challenge encourages children to actively travel to school at least once a week for the month and earn badges to collect. Prizes are up for grabs for the class that is at the top of the leaderboard. Ancrum Outdoor Centre is providing a termly prize, with a day out taking part in outdoor activities such as water sports and mountain biking on offer.
This initiative ties in with the school streets zone around the school where roads outside the school are temporarily closed to vehicles at school drop-off and pick-up times including the bottom part of Mains Loan, Molison Street, Eliza Street & Catherine Street. The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic.
The result is a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment for everyone. The walking bus runs every day, before and after school. There is a north and south bus that walks a set route, with children and parents encouraged to join along the way. A silent disco is then held every Monday when the bus gets to school.
Pictured are the Active Travel Committee (front) with Jillian Walker - Active Schools Coordinator, Andy Cameron - Teacher from Clepington PS and Billy Thomson Active Travel Coordinator at Ancrum Outdoor Centre.