Half of school journeys are made on foot

MORE than half of all journeys to school in Edinburgh are made on foot, shows a new survey.

Research by sustainable transport charity Sustrans found that around 55 per cent of all pupils walked to school in the city, a slight rise on last year.

There was a slight rise in the number of children cycling, to 3.6 per cent, but the number of those being driven by car also increased, to around 23 per cent.

Commenting on the results of the study nationwide, which showed an overall drop in the number of children walking and cycling, John Lauder, national director of Sustrans Scotland, said: "The findings highlight the need for government at local and national levels to maintain focused investment to encourage children to travel actively.

"The small decrease in the number of children travelling actively to school in Scotland is a shame. However, half of all journeys to school are still made on foot, by bike or by scooter."