The proportion of children cycling to school in Scotland has increased to a new high of 3.8 per cent. However, while active travel as a whole remains the most frequently reported mode of travel to school at 48.7 per cent, this represents a 0.1 per cent decline on the previous year and the lowest proportion since the Hands Up Scotland survey began in 2008.
Funded by Transport Scotland, Hands Up is a joint survey between Sustrans and all 32 Scottish local authorities. Each September, schools complete the survey in class by asking their pupils ‘How do you normally travel to school?’
The Scotsman reports that in 2018 3.8 per cent of pupils cycled, up from 3.7 per cent the year before and 2.8 per cent in 2008.
Other than that, 42.5 per cent walked; 24.8 per cent were driven in a private car or taxi; 16.2 per cent travelled by bus; 9.8 per cent travelled by “park and stride”; and 2.4 per cent took a scooter or skated.
John Lauder, national director of Sustrans Scotland, said: “It’s encouraging to see that cycling and park and stride numbers continue to increase. Research has shown that increased physical activity can help children lead happier, healthier lives, while contributing to lowering pollution around their school gates.
“We need to continue to monitor the reduction in bus use, and seek to identify ways that active travel can be a viable alternative, rather than the private car.”
Commenting on the overall decline in active travel, a Transport Scotland spokesman said: "We note the publication and remain confident that the Scottish Government’s recent investment will lead to an increase in the number of children walking or cycling to school in the coming years.
“While overall numbers have remained relatively stable, there are positive signs, including the fact that cycling rates are now at the highest level. We continue to fund local authorities directly through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Grant, which this year is £8.9m.”
And 3 of the 'workers' are just leaning!
Same sketch everywhere, or so it seems. Take Whitelegg Way in Bournemouth. Wide cycle lanes put in both sides of a (formerly very wide) two lane...
Sounds cool. I haven't taken an "unnecessary flight" since 1992. Flown many times since then for work, but you can't patrol the Iraqi desert, or...
My first thought on reading the headline was "ooh, has Clevedon put in covered bike parking now?".
I rented a car a few weeks ago, a Skoda Octavia (needed a big car for a weekend), and the ride was astonishingly good compared to my own 10 year...
Silly.
Shimano for me please ! 👋👋
Shimano were castigated for not bringing on new factories to meet pandemic demand, thus gumming up the supply chain. Their argument at the time was...
I figured out a reason of that squeaking noise. I have xpresso 2 and 7, and also xpro 10 pedals, and that squeaking isn't present only at Xpresso 2...
Italian tourist and pussycat in Portugal.