Why do we need School Travel
Plans?
Issues relating to the journey to school are a national
concern. Much of this concern relates to the impact that the school
run has on road-safety, children's health and security and of
course the efficiency of the road network.
Nationally, in 1986 children, aged 5 to 16, made 60% of their
school journeys on foot and only 16% by car. Ten years on less than
50% walked to school and the number travelling by car had risen to
29%. Public transport use has declined and cycling now represents
less than 1% of all school journeys. At present almost one in five
car trips in the morning peak are taking children to school.
For some parents there may be no alternative to the car, with
long distances to travel and no suitable public transport
available, but many are driving their children to school over short
distances, where walking and cycling are real options.
A School Travel Plan provides an opportunity for each
individual school to identify and promote practical travel
alternatives appropriate to its pupils needs, thereby encouraging
parents to consider different ways of taking their children to
school.
The benefits are numerous:
For the
School
- Improve safety and reduce pollution
- Reduce traffic inside and outside school
- Improve relationships with school's neighbors and local
community
- Establish safer walking and cycling routes
- Provide opportunities for learning, particularly in
citizenship
- Provide opportunities for local media coverage
- Contribute to an environmental policy
For the Students
- Increase travel awareness and improve road and personal safety
skills
- Increase knowledge and awareness of local community and
environment
- Improve fitness through increased levels of walking and
cycling
- Improve behavior in school and on the school journey
For Parents and Staff
- Improve community awareness through joint working
- Build links between parents and strengthen home-school
links
- Reduce driving stress and improve journey
quality
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Page Last Updated: 11/12/2004
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