SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS

In the mid 1980's only 16% of pupils travelled to school by car; this figure had risen to 29% by the late 1990's. The consequences of this have been increased peak hour traffic congestion, children getting less exercise and the building of a culture of car dependency at an early age. The Government recognises the problem and has committed itself in the 1998 Transport White Paper to taking initiatives to encourage more children to get to school other than by car. One of these initiatives, the development of guidance on best practice for school travel plans, recently completed for the DETR by Oscar Faber, Sustrans and Adrian Davis, is the subject of this paper. The paper describes the findings of research into current practice undertaken through case study visits to 30 schools and local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, and presents examples of best practice that might be successfully adopted throughout the country. The initiatives cover all modes of travel and relate to not only physical measures but also curriculum/education work. The Best Practice Guide (due for publication at the end of June 1999) provides practical advice to those within local authorities tasked with reducing the environmental impacts of car use particularly in relation to the preparation of plans for travel to school, as required within the new 'Local Transport Plans'. The paper highlights those issues that will have to be considered in relation to wider transport policy, working with schools, putting the plan together, resources, monitoring and evaluation. For the covering abstract see IRRD E104586.