School children are getting healthier and roads less congested, transport chairman Julian Simmonds told Tuesday’s Brisbane City Council meeting.

Cr Simmonds said the council’s Active School Transport program had resulted in a 35 percent increase in the number of students walking or cycling to school.

“So that’s a 35 percent decrease in the number of sole passenger car trips,” he said. “I think that’s a wonderful achievement.”

The program, which involves initiatives like Walking Wheeling Wednesday, Park & Stride and walking school buses, has seen more than 43,000 students across 96 schools get involved since the program’s foundation in 2004.

“I am very proud to announce to the chamber that they were the best results we’ve ever had in the history of the program,” Cr Simmonds said.

The councillor also praised the program for the universal approval it had experienced from both council parties.

“The program goes to the heart of what this administration is about – and that is reducing traffic congestion,” he said.