Dunedin teens would get a lot more exercise if they went to their nearest school

Otago University has worked out they would walk and cycle more, after analysing the school journeys of nearly 800 students.

Associate Professor Michael Keall says this shows their exercise would increase if school zones were more strictly followed.

He says car-based transport to high schools in Dunedin has increased by about 10 percent in the past 25 years.

New analysis shows those living within walking distance of their schools do an extra 11.5 minutes of physical activity a day, and those within cycling distance accumulate an extra 5.5 minutes.