Monday, February 25, 2008

The Woman who Stops Traffic - New Channel 4 Series
I've just heard there will be a new series starting on Channel 4 TV tomorrow night (Tuesday 26 Feb) which is a must-watch for anyone interested in getting more kids to walk to school (and getting people to leave the car at home generally).

Thanks to Andrew at Living Streets for passing the tip on. Here's the blurb about it from the Radio Times:

The Woman Who Stops Traffic

Highlight

Tuesday 26 February
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Channel 4

Kris Murrin wants British drivers to cut down on their car journeys. It's a bold suggestion, but then "professional problem-solver" Murrin is a bold woman. She needs to be. When she fetches up, in the first of a three-part series, in the chic town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, suggesting a leave-your-car-at-home day, she's abused and patronised. But you've got to hand it to her, she's indefatigable, even in the face of being addressed as "my dear" in weary patrician tones by one of the town's elders. The hostility towards her idea seems insuperable, but gradually Murrin starts to capture imaginations. It's the schoolchildren who are most receptive to walking or cycling to school, and their overprotective mums (who cause most of Marlow's rush-hour problems during the school run) who are the most resistant. It's highly entertaining and instructive to watch Murrin chivy, cajole and arm-twist. But will it be enough?

RT reviewer - Alison Graham

VIDEO Plus+: 1539


3 comments:

Andrew - Walk to School 2.0 said...

Did you see it? What did you think?
My thoughts are on my blog: http://walk2school.blogspot.com/

But overall, I was very impressed - she could be the sustainable transport's Jamie Oliver!

Alison at BrightKidz said...

It was really good and I'm looking forward to the next one. It made quite an impact when she pointed out the dangers of NOT walking or cycling for children - that 1 in 4 of our children will die due to conditions linked to lack of regular physical activity (or words to that effect).

Andrew - Walk to School 2.0 said...

Absolutely agree. One of the things I wondered about is whether there was stickiness in the work - did it make a long term difference, or just short-term "nice telly?"

See Walk to School 2.0: The woman who stops traffic - did it work?

for my conclusions!