Speaking on National Walk Safely to School Day (May 19), Cr Fraser said walking to school had many benefits.

“Making walking part of a child’s school day is a great way to increase their level of physical activity and encourage them to socialise with other children, while also teaching them to interact safely with traffic and observe pedestrian road rules,” Cr Fraser said.

“Ideally, children should walk in groups, with adult supervision and assistance crossing the road until they are at least 10 years old. Parents can take it in turns to accompany the students.”

Cr Fraser congratulated local schools, such as Blacksmiths Public School, which use Walk Safely to School Day to promote walking.

Blacksmiths this week organised a mass walk to school by students from nearby Dobinson Reserve, with about 50 of the school’s 91 students braving the threat of rain to take part.

Parents, teachers and younger siblings also walked, and Cr Christine Buckley, accompanied the group, representing the mayor.

“We already have a high number of students who walk to school, but we do something every year on Walk Safely to School Day to show students how much fun it can be and encourage those who don’t usually walk to think about the benefits,” Blacksmiths Primary School principal, Kim Harris, said.

Lake Macquarie City Council is committed to improving community connectivity and promoting active transport.

In March, the council hosted a visit by international expert Dr Rodney Tolley, of the advocacy organisation Walk21, who emphasised the benefits for children of walking to school as part of his presentation to a public forum.

Dr Tolley believes walking is an important freedom for children.

His research has found some children are constrained from walking by their parents’ fears about traffic and stranger danger.

But he said this constraint had consequences for their child’s health and independence.  It also meant that parents inevitably spent more time escorting their children to destinations.