School-Centric Walking Apps

Authorities at the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority and the non-profit EnviroCentre, both based in Canada's capital city of Ottawa, have launched an innovative new walking app that aims to motivate elementary students to walk to school and generally embrace the ethos of active transportation to improve their health and well-being.

The 'Hop!' app, which is available to download from the transportation authority's website, allows students to track their walks to school as well as to other locations. The app lets youth keep tabs on their walking distances whilst also allowing to access group activities as well as motivational tools.

On top of giving children a reason to stay active, this walking app even calculates the greenhouse gas emissions that they've avoided by walking, allowing them to see how their lifestyle change has had a positive impact on the planet.

Image Credit: Ottawa Student Transportation Authority / EnviroCentre