Cool to school

Carinthian school travel climate project receives award

Cool to school: the children and young people collect points with every school bus ride and receive rewards at the end of the semester.(Bild: Bacher Reisen)

Bacher Reisen has been rewarding children and young people for traveling to school by bus for three years. Now the school travel climate project has been rated as a showcase project in terms of sustainability by Österreich Werbung.

The company Bacher Reisen from Gmünd launched an initiative three years ago to motivate schoolchildren to use the school bus and thus avoid their parents' cabs, which produce a lot of carbon dioxide: Cool in die Schul'. 

Initially, 80 children and young people had the app, on which they recorded their regular school bus journeys in order to collect climate points and receive a cool gift at the end of the semester.

"Cool in die Schul'" is now fun for 120 children and young people!(Bild: Bacher Reisen)

120 young people are now "cool to school" and are learning to appreciate public transport along the way.

In its new sustainability brochure, Österreich Werbung presents 50 best-practice examples from five categories, with Bacher Reisen's school travel project in the mobility category. "We are very pleased about the appreciation," says Marlene Bacher from Bacher Reisen.

Cyclists and pedestrians are also included
The 'Cool to School' project was initiated by Bacher Reisen - the company operates almost the entire school and regular bus service in the Lieser and Malta valleys - and implemented together with KEM manager Hermann Florian. Children who make their way to school on foot or by bike are also involved in the campaign and collect their climate points with a climate pass.

Jonas Pirker was crowned Bus Champion 2023. He received skis signed by Olympic champion Matthias Mayer and a ski helmet. Rebecca Medrow won the pedestrian category and received a scooter for her efforts.