'Extremely disappointing' slump in walking to school as record number take car

The proportion of pupils travelling to school by car in Scotland is at its highest level since annual surveys began in 2008, according to official research.

Pupils walking to school in Falkirk in March. Picture Michael Gillen.

Walking and cycling developers Sustrans Scotland found pupils walking and taking the bus hit record lows over the same period.

Living Streets Scotland, which campaigns for walkers, described the figures as “extremely disappointing”.

The Hands Up report surveyed 78.9 per cent of state schools in Scotland as well as private schools and nurseries.

It found 41 per cent of state school pupils walked to school, 23.8 per cent went by car, 16 per cent used the bus, 4.1 per cent cycled and 2.7 per cent used a scooter or skated.

That compares with 21.5 per cent travelling by car in 2008.Walking is down from 45.8 per cent in 2010 and bus use has dropped from 18.2 per cent.

But cycling to school is now at its highest recorded level.

The findings also revealed a difference in travel between different types of schools.

A total of 44.5 per cent of pupils from independent schools are driven to school, whereas 23.6 per cent of state school pupils went by car.

Sustrans Scotland director John Lauder said travel patterns will have changed as a result of the lockdown.

He said: “What we have seen during lockdown, with fewer cars on the road, is that people will change their behaviour if they feel their streets are safer.

“It is important we make it easier and safer for children, parents and teachers to travel in an active, sustainable way.

“Our streets cannot afford more congestion and air pollution.

“Our children cannot afford more inactivity after months of home schooling.

“Let’s bring back something better.

“We need to make it easier and safer for children, parents and teachers to travel in an active and sustainable way once schools reopen.

“Only then will we be able to ensure walking, cycling and scooting is seen as a viable alternative to the private car.”

Living Streets Scotland director Stuart Hay said: “These results are incredibly disappointing and show there is a lot of work to be done to make walking to school a viable option.

“We know from our work with schools across Scotland that families are put off walking to school by traffic, road danger and air pollution.

“By removing cars, we remove these barriers.”

The group called for more 20mph limits, safer crossings and vehicles barred from streets around schools at pick-up and drop-off times.

Transport Scotland, which funded the poll, said: “We remain confident the Scottish Government’s record investment in active travel [walking and cycling] 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 cycling rates are now at the highest level.

“We fund local authorities directly through the cycling, walking and safer streets grant, which has increased this year to £23.9 million.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support it.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates