Active way to School programme
Towards active and sustainable ways of getting to school
Exercise on the way to school can play a considerable role in children and young people’s physical activity, fitness and health. By walking or cycling a 3-kilometre round trip to school, it is possible to achieve 40–60% of the recommended daily amount of moderate-intensity physical activity.
Physical activity on the way to school is also considered to have social, economic and environmental benefits. A physically active and sustainable way of getting to school reduces the carbon footprint effectively.
Active way to School programme provides information, solutions and cooperation for the planning and implementation of more sustainable and active ways of getting to school. The target group of the programme consists of schools, pupils, guardians, municipalities, decision-makers and organisations.
The objectives of the Active way to School programme are:
More active and sustainable physical activity on the way to school
- Every pupil has the opportunity to get active and sustainable exercise on at least part of their way to school.
- Reducing the use of cars when the journey to school is 0–5 kilometres and removing possible restrictions on cycling to school.
Better traffic safety on the way to school
- Every pupil has the opportunity to get to school safely.
- Improving traffic safety and reducing the number of accidents on the routes to school and in the school yard.
Enhancing an active and sustainable physical activity culture in schools and teaching.
- Supporting the competence and activities of schools, municipalities and homes.
- Engaging pupils and guardians.
Support for strategies and operating models for active and sustainable ways to of getting to school.
- Supporting the decision-making related to active and sustainable ways of getting to school.
- Increasing research information on physical activity on the way to school and during the school day, monitoring it and increasing its effectiveness.
- Increasing cross-administrative cooperation between different actors and building networked cooperation.
Fiksusti kouluun is a joint programme of LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health and the Network of Finnish Cycling Municipalities (Pyöräilykuntien verkosto) to promote physical activity on the way to school. It works in cooperation with the Schools on the Move programme, LIKES and the Network of Finnish Cycling Municipalities have worked jointly to increase physical activity on the way to school since 2018.
The Fiksusti kouluun (Active way to School) programme is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The programme offers information and advice for the planning and implementation of smarter ways of getting to school.