Tauranga Travel Safe is an integrated school travel plan programme that considers the needs of individual schools and their communities. Unique travel plans are developed for each school by:

• listening to communities
• keeping it simple and flexible
• developing community and school ownership at the beginning
• strengthening community action
• developing personal skills
• creating supportive environments
• supporting building healthy public policy

Schools, parents/caregivers/volunteers and students are the backbone of the partnership and make collective decisions using community developed templates.  The programme fosters a culture of ‘valuing the volunteer’ and the students are encouraged to solve the problems themselves.

The Travel Safe programmes are underpinned by robust education, engineering, enforcement and encouragement and are reflective of community needs.

Travel Safe programmes

These include:

Kids on Feet

Kids on Feet is a template for ‘walking school buses’ and other forms of active transport for primary schools which may include cycling, bussing, scootering and walking.  It is run by parents and volunteers in the community and is fully supported by Council’s Travel Safe team.

Check out Cityzoom for Travel Safe “Kids on Feet” walking bus routes.

Kids Can Ride

Kids Can Ride is a cycle safety education programme for Year 5/6 students that increases students’ skill base on and off the road and cultivates a ‘love’ of safe cycling.  The programme has been developed alongside schools over the last few years and is led by Iris Thomas’ experienced team.  Kids Can Ride is a crucial component of Travel Safe and school travel plans.  Check  Bikewise and Cityzoom.

Enforcement

The Travel Safe team work in partnership with Tauranga City Council’s parking team and the police to carry out enforcement outside schools on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

This helps schools to lift the level of safety around their gates.

Travel Smart Senior Students Programme

The Travel Safe team work alongside senior students in primary schools to encourage them to take responsibility for promoting active travel and road safety initiatives to their peers.  Part of their role is to implement ‘Feet First’ into their school.

Visit Feet first and NZ Transport Agency Education website for more information on Feet First.

Feet First

Feet First is the national programme developed by the NZ Transport Agency to assist local authorities and schools to encourage students and parents/caregivers to walk, cycle, bus and scooter or use other forms of active transport to get to and from school.

For more information and resources visit Feet First and the NZ Transport Agency Education website for more information.

Caterpillar Feet

Caterpillar Feet is a ‘Kids on Feet’ type programme for pre-schoolers which is in the early stages of development.

It has come about as a result of community requests for a kindergarten and pre-school travel plan programme.

Ruben the Road Safety Bear Programme

Ruben the road safety bear is a road safety education programme is for 3-7 year olds. Ruben is available to visit schools or pre-schools in Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District Council areas as part of the Travel Safe programme.

Ruben’s themes are safe passenger, safe pedestrian, sneaky driveways/roads, supervised cycling, helmet and safety belt use.

Visit: Ruben's website for more information.

Sergeant Jacko’s Road Safety Puppet Programmes

This is a ‘road safety’ puppet show for pre-school to Year 8 students.  The content of the shows is varied to make them age appropriate.

Shows include messages about safe walking, safe cycling, being a safe pedestrian, safe skateboarding, and bus safety.

It is an important component of Travel Safe and for school road safety education.  For more information visit Puppet Vision's website.