Year eight pupils from local schools across North and West Belfast are being encouraged to make the move away from private car journeys to other healthy and more environmentally-friendly forms of travel as part of a Translink initiative to help make people’s lives better.

For the third consecutive year, Translink has tasked pupils with reducing the number of car journeys made along main routes into school through the ‘Life’s Better Schools Travel Challenge.’ Ten schools including seasoned entrants from St Dominic’s Grammar School, Coláiste Feirste and St Louise’s Comprehensive College who won the overall prize last year along with new applicants from Edmund Rice College and Glengormley High will be taking part in the challenge.

The challenge is once again being backed by the Kennedy Centre who will be providing spot prizes and the winning pupils will receive free bus transport for their school. 

Philip Woods, Metro Service Delivery Manager at Translink commented:

“We are delighted to be launching the Life’s Better Schools Travel Challenge, especially following the success over the past two years. It is great that even more schools are witnessing the benefits that the scheme creates for the pupils involved, including understanding the environmental impact of reducing private car journeys, enjoying the benefits of regular through to learning about the safety issues associated with the use of passenger transport.

“Through this initiative we are challenging young people to embrace the benefits that make life better for people choosing the bus such as less hassle than sitting in traffic travelling to and from school, more time to spend chatting to friends or listening to music, reduced congestion and lower emissions. Choosing public over private transport can also be beneficial for the health of the individual by walking to and from the bus stop or travelling to school by bicycle as well as building social skills and independence for the pupil. 

“Last year we saw a reduction of 16% in weekly private car journeys, resulting in less congestion and CO2 reductions and we are looking forward to seeing improved results this year. We hope this challenge will also help to make people’s lives better within the local community by reducing the number of cars on the roads at these busy times and help encourage safety at school gates,” concluded Phillip.

For further information please visit www.translink.co.uk/lifesbetter or join the conversation online #translinklifesbetter

ENDS

For further information please contact Louise Carson or Katrina Frazer at Aiken PR 028 9066 3000

Notes to Editor

The schools participating in the Life’s Better Schools Travel Challenge include:

• St Dominic’s Grammar School• St Louise’s Comprehensive College• St Genevieve’s High School• Coláiste Feirste• De La Salle College• Malone Integrated College• Glengormley High School• St Malachy’s College• B.R.A. (Belfast Royal Academy)• Edmund Rice College