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The Green Mile goes on
The follow up success of Charleville's youth led environmental project.
Read part one of this article.
Following the huge response to “The Green Mile” project, the fifth and transition year students of CBS Secondary School, Charleville are aiming to build on last year’s success.
They now hope to win political support to have Charleville established as a model school transportation town, where the preferred choice of transport to and from school will be bicycles and walking, backed up by the school bus system.
This year began with a sponsored 20km cycle: 15 students and two teachers were joined by representatives of Sli Eile in this fund-raising cycle, the proceeds of which were divided between the Green Mile and Sli Eile.
Together with sponsorship from Cork County Council Environmental Board, the funds raised have contributed towards safe cycling lessons for all CBS Junior students. All junior students have also received protective helmets and instruction on safe road use.
Transition Year students continue surveying traffic volumes on in Charleville. It is hoped that as more and more students choose to cycle and walk to school, measurable reductions in car traffic violumes can be achieved.
CBS Fifth Year students also hosted a stall in Charleville in November, giving the students the perfect opportunity to present a healthy lifestyle, namely exercise and fresh air. The event encouraged parents to consider bicycles, helmets, lights, reflective jackets, waterproof cycling gear etc. as excellent Christmas presents ideas for their sons and daughters - the gift of cycling is the gift of mobility, independence and fitness. 10% of all products sold from the student’s stall was donated by Cycling Pursuits towards the cost of secure bicycle lock-ups at the secondary schools of Charleville.
The students continue to canvass political support for The Green Mile Project, and have received backing from Minister Batt O’Keeffe, Senator Deirdre De Burca and others.
Ongoing discussions with the school book companies are aimed at significantly reducing the weight of students’ schoolbags, thus making it easier to walk or cycle. The present situation, where a majority of students are driven to school in parents cars will, it is hoped become a thing of the past, as students opt to cycle and walk to school.
By: Stephen Dawson
