What is the School Travel Planning Committee?
School Travel Plan Document
- School Travel Planning is all about promoting active (i.e. good for your health) and sustainable (i.e. good for the environment) ways of travelling to and from school.
- Our committee meets on a bimonthly basis to plan events to encourage walking, cycling or taking the TTC, and to address issues that might be barriers to these modes of travel.
- In addition, we have a Student Subcommittee (the FHCI Community Transit Committee) that meets weekly. Students in this committee learn about planning for active and sustainable school travel, while becoming leaders among their peers, networking among professionals in transportation planning, and earning community services hours.
- For the 2016/2017 School Year, the Smart Commute Team at Metrolinx has provided funding for a dedicated School Travel Planning Facilitator (from Green Communities Canada, an environmental non-profit organization) to work with our school.
Why School Travel Planning?
Planning for active and sustainable school travel has a wealth of benefits:
- Good for your health: Walking and cycling are correlated with a multitude of health benefits, including cardiovascular and bone health. They are also associated with mental health benefits, including improved mood, reduced stress and anxiety, and better ability to focus. Being active during the day can even help you sleep better at night.
- Good for the environment: For each car we take off the road, that’s less fuel that needs to be extracted from the earth to power that car, and less greenhouse gas emissions polluting our air. The added bonus of less cars on the streets is less congestion for those who choose to walk, bike or take the TTC.
- Good for your bank account: Owning and maintaining a car costs around $6000-$8000/year. A TTC pass costs just a fraction of that; and cycling or walking is nearly cost-free!
- Good for your grades: Walking or cycling to school is correlated with improved student focus in class and better academic performance.
- Good for the community: More walkers and cyclists lends support for investment in infrastructure that makes communities more walkable and bike friendly, leading to safer and more vibrant communities.
How can I get involved?
- If you are a student interested in joining the FHCI Community Transit Committee, join us Mondays at lunchtime in Room 231- all are welcome.
Resources
- Advocate to improve safety of the streets around your school with this step by step guide, including learning your options and how to request the changes you’d like to see
Avoid the bustle of the main roads by taking this quiet, nature-filled alternative that conveniently connects directly to FHCI. There are many options to walk, bike and take the TTC to school when you link to the Beltline Trail. This map includes approximate travel times to FHCI from various points on the trail, plus connections to various TTC routes for those travelling from farther away.