In Britain, about half the local school systems have some sort of informal, incentive program to encourage walking, according to Roger L. Mackett, a professor at the Center for Transport Studies at University College in London.

Fear is a factor that keeps some students in London from walking to school. The BBC reported a survey done by the charity Living Streets: A total of 48% of London’s children said “stranger danger” was a concern – higher than the national average of 39%.

Incentives to get kids moving vary. Students at two London schools can earn free movie tickets and shopping vouchers by walking to school. Along the route, they swipe cards through machines that record their route. The number of walking students increased by 18 per cent, and more got to class on time. But more inventive is the Living Streets’ Dance Walk program and its character named Strider. In their link below, the pictures are the proof.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/europe/27bus.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13264534

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/fighting-obesity-the-wrong-way-vs-the-right-way/article561938/#dashboard/follows/

http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-with-us/walk-to-school