TRAVELINE Cymru is encouraging children and their parents or carers to leave the car at home and give walking a go this Walk to School Week.

Walk to School Week will be taking place over five days, from Monday to Friday, May 19 to 23, in a bid to promote the health and environmental benefits of walking to families and young people.

Over 500,000 pupils took part in Walk to School Week 2013 – and this year is shaping up to be even bigger.

Walking to school is a great way to get active and healthy. It’s also a great opportunity for children to learn vital road safety skills and make sure they’re alert and ready to learn at the start of a new day. Walk to School Week (May 19-23) is part of Living Streets’ National Walking Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the benefits of walking – and the perfect time to give walking a go.

Graham Walter, general manager of Traveline Cymru said: “Walking is a great way for young people to keep active and healthy. It can also help them learn vital road safety skills, interact with their local environment and develop independence. Traveline Cymru are delighted to be supporting Walk to School Week and celebrating the walk to school.”

Living Streets runs the national Walk to School campaign, and the national charity says parents who walk find the journey to school less stressful, their petrol bill goes down, their children perform better at school and that they, and their children, feel healthier and fitter.

Teachers even report that those pupils who walk to school are more attentive once they reach their desks.

Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets said: “This May, we’re urging families up and down the country to give walking a go during Walk to School Week.”

“We think you’ll be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you. It’s free, green and easy and above all it works. We need to encourage children to get walking now and set healthy habits for the future.”

Traveline Cymru provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for travel information in Wales. The not-for-profit company is based on a partnership between the Welsh Government, public transport operators in Wales and Welsh local authorities.