Cycle-friendly schools and colleges (Cycling UK views)
Briefing
Children, teachers and parents all benefit from school run cycling
Monday, 4 December 2017
Cycle-friendly schools and colleges (Cycling UK views)
Policy Key Facts
- Although many children want to cycle to school, on average only around 1-3% do so each year in the UK. In the Netherlands, most children cycle to and from school.
- Walking and driving are the most common forms of transport for the school run.
- Travel for education is responsible for about 29% of trips starting between 8 and 9 am.
- The average distance travelled to school/college is approximately two and a half miles.
- The NHS recommends that 5-18 year-olds take at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, ranging from moderate activity, such as cycling and playground activities, to vigorous activity, such as running and tennis.
- In England, almost of a quarter of children in reception class, and over a third of children in Year 6 are overweight/obese. In 2015, 23% of 5-15 year-old boys met the Government’s physical activity recommendations (28% did so in 2008). Around a fifth of girls met the recommendations.
- In Scotland (2016), amongst 2-15 year-olds: 14% were considered to be at risk of obesity, with a further 15% at risk of being overweight; 29% were at risk of being overweight/obese; 79% of boys and 72% of girls met the physical activity recommendations.
- In Wales (2015/16), 11.7% of children in reception class were obese, with a further 14.5% classed as overweight. Asked about the previous week, just over half of 3-17 year-olds said they were active for at least one hour every day, but 11% said they weren’t active on any day.
- 10-16 year-old boys who cycle regularly to school are 30% more likely and girls seven times more likely to meet recommended fitness levels.
- Danish studies show that cycling to school lowers young people’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Children who walk or cycle to school concentrate better than those who are driven there.
Cycling UK View
- Involving the whole school community (pupils, teachers, governors and parents), schools and colleges should:
- Actively recognise the health, social, environmental and educational benefits of encouraging students and staff to cycle.
- Develop, act on and monitor School Travel Plans that have cycling at their core; and publish pro-cycling policies.
- Arrange for Bikeability training and other activities to promote safe, fun and responsible cycling.
- Provide high quality facilities for pupils who cycle (e.g. parking, lockers for equipment etc).
- Remove all barriers to cycling (e.g. bans on parking cycles on the premises).
- Not impose restrictions on those who do cycle (e.g. a requirement to wear cycle helmets).
- Work with the local highways authority to improve road safety in the area.
- Local authorities should:
- Work positively with schools/colleges about cycling and offer resources to help them develop their Travel Plans.
- Jointly identify hostile conditions on local roads and treat them to help make cycling to and from school/college as hazard-free, attractive and convenient as possible (e.g. by introducing 20 mph speed limits, providing safe cycling links etc).
- School inspections and self-evaluations should assess the measures that school/colleges take to encourage active travel and reduce the impact they have on traffic volumes and road danger.
Download the full detailed campaign briefing
