Londoner interviews HEAL members on the Active and Safe Routes to School initiative

• Post by: Moe
• 3:24PM Sep 07, 2018
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HEAL researchers, Dr. Andrew Clark, Dr. Jason Gilliland, Katherine Wilson and Kate Schieman along with Sabrina Sater, supervisor of neighbourhood development and support for the City of London were featured in the Londoner this week.

With elementary students back in school, families are being encouraged to establish a structured and healthy daily routine of active transportation to and from school. Utilizing active transportation has been shown to result in improved physical and mental health. It also helps children with their ability to make decisions about their environment.

The Active and Safe Routes to School steering committee of St. Thomas, Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxford is comprised of many community groups, including the HEAL at Western University and engages schools and community stakeholders to identify and address barriers to actively travel to and from school.

Active & Safe Routes to School promotes the use of active transportation to and from school, addressing health, physical activity, and traffic safety issues while taking action on air pollution and climate change.

At the forefront of public health agendas across Canada, childhood obesity has become a serious concern with rates tripling over the last 3 decades. A major objective of ASRTS is to address this issue by reducing perceived risks and barriers of active travel to school, and in turn, increasing physical activity among children.

Active & Safe Routes to School began with grassroots efforts of parents who were concerned for their children’s health and safety. Over the past decade it has evolved into a national movement supported by a large network of Canadian organizations who believe active transportation on the trip to and from school increases health and happiness, and creates daily fitness habits for life.

To read the full article: https://www.thelondoner.ca/news/local-news/safer-streets-for-students

Check out the official Active & Safe Routes to School Website: http://activesaferoutes.ca/