The report suggests Wagga council “make it obvious to all students the mode of choice for accessing schools in Wagga is on foot” by building two-metre-wide footpaths within 800 metres of all local schools. 

“Regional cities cannot survive another generation of non-walkers,” the author wrote.

“It is a sign of the quality of a city if eight-year-old children are regularly walking to school.

“Conversely, if there are children living within 800 metres of a school who aren’t walking, this reflects extremely poorly on Wagga as a family destination.”

Wagga parents Beth Wilson and Corey Lazaropto would walk their seven-year-old daughter to school more often if footpaths were wider.

“Within 200 metres of the front gate there could be 10 or 15 kids pass you on scooters and bikes and you have to compete with prams," Mr Lazaropto said.

“When you have kids going to and from school competing normal pedestrian traffic, most times you have to walk on to someone's nature strip or the road.”

Regardless of footpaths widths, Mr Lazaropto wasn’t comfortable letting her seven-year-old daughter walk to school by herself because of “stranger danger” but her attitude could change if the proposal gave rise to “walking buses”.

Ms Wilson welcomed the proposal but would prefer money be spent lining every street in Wagga with footpaths on at least one side of the road.

“The other day I watched a lady walking with pram along Ashmont Avenue outside Thomas Bros car yard where there’s no footpath and she had to walk on the traffic side of parked cars,” she said.

Wagga mother Gemma Ramage backed any move to encourage children to exercise, claiming her two kids had each lost three kilograms since walking 500 metres to and from the bus stop.

“My children a little bit overweight and I'm trying to get them fit and healthy so they happier and longer lives,” Mrs Ramage said.

“Walking to bus stop helps the kids wake up with fresh air; it’s good for them.”

Council welcomes feedback on its transport report, which will be considered in the final Integrated Transport Stretegy due in May.