Scooting To School Taking Off

THE County Council is responding to the increasing popularity of scooters among school pupils by installing appropriate parking facilities at schools across the county.
Oxfordshire County Council say: “Scootering is a fun and healthy way to travel to school and gives pupils exercise, which has been proven to increase concentration and memory.
“Scootering to school is also environmentally friendly, as it can cut down on unnecessary car journeys, which in turn eases congestion.

“Eight schools in Oxfordshire have recently benefited from the installation of specially designed scooter parking. The schools are Eynsham Community Primary School, St Swithuns Primary School, Oxford, Manor School, Didcot, RAF Benson Community Primary School, Faringdon Junior School, Wheatley Primary School, North Kidlington Primary School, St John the Evangelist, Carterton.

“By early next year, 200 new scooter parking places will have been installed in further schools across the county.

“One of the schools to benefit, Faringdon Junior School, has had 40 scooter parking places installed.

“Head teacher Paul Turner said: ?It?s great for the school to have a scooter park as coming to school on a scooter gets children into good habits about travelling short distances, without relying on polluting cars?.

“Scooter parking is relatively cheap and easy to install, and is ideal for smaller schools, as it can fit into small areas.

“The scooter parking being installed in schools across Oxfordshire has been funded by Oxfordshire County Council?s Better Ways to School Programme. For 2007, scooter parking will be part of the County Councils ?fast track? scheme, meaning it will normally be deliverable to schools with a School Travel Plan (STP) within a month.

“An STP identifies the potential for replacing car-travel to school with healthy and safe walking, cycling and bus travel. A total of 139 Schools in Oxfordshire now have an approved STP and are able to qualify for this funding.

“Producing an STP also entitles maintained schools to a Small Capital Grant (SCG), which can be used for on-site improvements, such as scooter & cycle parking that encourages sustainable travel to school.

“Currently