Government ministers are set to initiate a significant campaign aimed at encouraging more children to walk and cycle to school, as part of a broader initiative to promote “active travel,” announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
This marks the first substantial revision to active travel policies since the tenure of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The initiative will see the construction of thousands of new safe routes and crossings near schools across England, with an ambitious goal of having at least 60% of children walking, cycling, or using wheelchairs to commute to school by the year 2035.
The formal introduction of the new cycling and walking investment strategy is scheduled for Friday and includes a goal for at least 55% of shorter urban trips to incorporate some form of active travel, also by 2035. This addition of specific targets comes in response to feedback from advocacy groups, which criticized an earlier draft of the plan for lacking measurable objectives.
With a commitment to invest a total of £4.5 billion in active travel over the next five years, the plan aims to establish 5,000 new routes and 10,000 crossings by 2030. However, achieving this target may prove challenging, particularly for school-aged children, as current estimates indicate that only 45% of students currently engage in active travel. The new objectives encompass all students aged five to 16, whereas previous targets primarily focused on younger children who generally reside closer to their schools.
Alexander emphasized her intention to prioritize everyday travel requirements amidst the distractions posed by large-scale infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the newly established Great British Railways.
“There exists a narrative in which discussions revolve solely around planes, trains, and automobiles, and I am committed to ensuring that does not become our sole focus,” she remarked.
The prior active travel strategy was initiated under Boris Johnson, a notable advocate for active travel. In contrast, the government under Rishi Sunak had taken a different approach, promoting a “plan for drivers” that sought to restrict local councils from enhancing safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.
Alexander clarified that there would be “no conflict with motorists.” “The majority of people in this country drive, walk, cycle, or utilize public transportation,” she stated. “Attempting to categorize individuals into distinct groups is counterproductive.”
The goal of 55% of urban trips being active travel was part of the Johnson-era strategy but has been redefined to include “stages.” This means that combining active travel with other modes, such as cycling to a train station, will be recognized as contributing to the target.
The aim, according to Alexander, is to communicate that any form of active travel is not only economical but also beneficial for health. She referenced advice from Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, who stated that encouraging those who currently do little to engage in some form of activity is crucial from a public health standpoint.
Alexander expressed her personal commitment to the initiative: “I often reflect on how to integrate physical activity into my hectic schedule. As a 51-year-old woman who is overweight, this cycling and walking investment strategy is about motivating individuals like me to become more active.”
She noted that a focus solely on formal sports or exercise programs, such as the widely recognized “couch to 5k” running initiative, has not reached enough individuals. “I attempted couch to 5k and found it quite challenging. However, if asked to leave my car at home and cycle for five or ten minutes to the supermarket for some essentials, that’s an achievable task for me,” she concluded.
