Strategies and initiatives

Developing a Sustainable School Travel Strategy - a statement of intent

The last fifteen years have seen an increase in the number of pupils arriving at school by car.

One in five cars on the road in urban areas at the morning peak of ten minutes to nine is taking children to school. This has led to traffic congestion, air pollution and parking problems around schools and the local community and has resulted in a reduction in health and fitness.

There are a number of reasons for this, which include:

1. Rising car ownership
2. Parents under increasing pressure of time
3. Parental preference gives a wider choice of school
4. Inadequate bus services and high fares in some areas
5. Worries about bullying on the school bus
6. Increased traffic and fears about road safety
7. Increased fears about personal safety, including bullying and abduction
8. Parents feeling obliged to rely on car travel due to peer pressure
9. Lack of suitable cycling or safe walking routes

In a move to address these issues the Education and Inspections Act 2006 introduced a number of responsibilities for local authorities with regard to school travel. Under the Act there is a duty on local authorities to promote the use of sustainable school travel and transport for children and young people.

Statement of intent

The city council has published a statement of intent for the development of a sustainable school travel strategy which is available to download.

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009