Contact Us Help

Walking and Cycling to School

A new report by MP's advises councils to consider supplying pupils with free bikes.

Schools could come closer to achieving sustainable school status if councils did more to encourage walking and cycling to school, a major report by MP’s has revealed.

The Transport Select Committee report on school travel advises that a national campaign is needed, safer routes need to be developed and extra funding must be pledged if families are to be persuaded to walk or ride a bike to school instead of travelling by car.

It argues that bus schemes and more free public transport for school students could not only decrease carbon emissions but also reduce the congestion caused by the daily school run. Pupils could also be forced to attend local schools instead of travelling to schools of their choice.

Louise Ellman, chair of the committee, said: "It would be a good idea to give bikes to families who can't afford them. There is a scheme in Liverpool where bikes are lent to people to help them get to jobs. That could be expanded."

She added: "Young people deserve safe and affordable travel to education, leisure and employment. The journeys people make when young will influence their preferences and habits in adulthood."

The report reveals that the amount of free transport available for children varies depending on the area of the country in which they live, and accuses the government of ignoring the tension it has created by encouraging parents to apply to schools that are further away from home.

It also notes that children in poor, rural areas have a limited choice of schools to attend as they only qualify for free school travel to schools within six miles of their homes.

The report states: "There is a tension between promoting choice of school and promoting sustainable school travel. The government has, to date, done little to address the tension."

It adds: “The government should make a clear commitment to promoting walking and cycling as the preferred transport options where this is practicable," explaining that the government needs to increase funding for sustainable transport for schools in order for the situation to improve.