Transport tips for kids

Transport tips for kids

Children starting secondary school this week are being given tips on how to reach their new school by public transport. 

30,000 copies of the ‘Pupil and Parents Guide’ booklets have bee handed out to pupils attending welcome evenings at their new schools.

The guide - now in its third year - was the first of its kind to encourage children to use buses, trains and trams to reach school.

It teaches children how to read a timetable, how to plan their journey to and from school, and which stop or station to get off at.

It also gives safety and ticket advice along with details about what to do if you lose something on public transport, experience anti-social behaviour or have a problem using the service.

Adam Goulcher, GMPTE’s Acting Strategy Director, said: “Starting secondary school is a big step and we want to make getting there as easy as possible.

“It’s often the first time children have used the bus, train or tram on their own and we hope this booklet will help them to travel confidently.

“As well as the benefits for pupils who choose to use public transport to get to school, it can help the wider community by reducing the impact of the school run on rush hour traffic.

“We know that children who use public transport from an early age are more likely to carry on using it when they become adults, so hopefully the booklet will have a long lasting impact on improving public transport use across Greater Manchester.”

The booklet encourages parents to make sure their children know the safest route to and from the bus, train or tram stop or station and to have a contact number for the transport company in case the service does not arrive.