Active travel to school gaining momentum

Monday 19 December 2022

As we reach the end of this term, new figures have revealed that more children are choosing to travel actively to and from school.

A school travel audit, carried out by the Health Improvement Commission, has found that more than 50% of primary school students are increasingly cycling or walking to the school site or benefiting from ‘blended’ travel.

That is the highest level of active travel since the first survey was undertaken in June 2020. 

Blended travel, where parents use ‘park and stride’ opportunities, was included in the survey for the first time which also saw increases on previous years. 

Secondary schools studied were limited to La Mare de Carteret, one year group from St. Sampson’s, Beaucamps, Les Voies and Le Murier. 

The results were comparable to the same time last year, with 33% of students travelling to school by active travel means, and 34% from school. Older year groups tended to travel actively less often than other groups. 

Pictured: A breakdown of statistics from the active travel audit. 

The audits are conducted each year in May and October by the Commission. Data is collected by teachers asking children in each class, by a show of hands, how they travelled to and from school over the course of two days. 

In total in October’s survey, 3,981 primary pupils reported their travel to and from school and 762 secondary pupils.

Active Travel Officer Alex Costen has been promoting these initiatives within schools: “Park and stride is a simple idea for families who live a bit further away but can still enjoy the benefits of walking to school. 

“If families drive, we’d suggest they park a 10-minute walk from school and complete their journey on foot, still giving children a chance to get active, and all the benefits that brings, plus reducing traffic, congestion, and road danger around the school.

“We are currently working with headteachers to help identify park and stride locations near to the schools and think about ways to encourage walking and cycling.

“There are some brilliant role-models out there and we’d like to work with these students to help engage and encourage other students to encourage them to walk or cycle more, even if it is just once or twice a week and to help overcome any potential barriers.”