Sustainable Travel to Strategy

Parents Guide

Cutting Child Miles The journeys people make when young The school journey will influence their in “ preferences and habits in adulthood.

Louise Ellman MP Bournemouth has the highest percentage of a resource for and information for parents making decisions about car journeys to school out of all the authorities travel choices. in the South West Region. 36 % travel by car. ” We would like to encourage parents to consider the implications of travel when This leaflet is to introduce parents deciding on a new primary or secondary The recognised cycle threshold at to our Sustainable Travel to School before expressing a preference. Secondary is 3.2km/2 miles Strategy. The strategy promotes a move away from private car use for We are fully committed to promoting In the short term, success can be travel to school and encourages more walking, cycling, and for longer measured as a decrease in the number walking, cycling or travelling by bus. distances greater use of buses. of car trips being made by pupils who Walking represents the greatest scope The move to sustainable travel live within walking distance of to reduce car journeys to school. We options is an important step towards their school. have evidence from our postcode data improving the health of our children, analysis that 2569 pupils (26%) who live In the longer term success would our environment and the quality of life within the walk thresholds, still travel be measured by an increase in the in our community. by car! We believe it is reasonable on number of pupils choosing a school Parental choice in Bournemouth has the borough, but also borough and health grounds alone that all parents within walking or cycling distance of lead to 68% of our children not county borders to travel to their chosen, and pupils who live within these home and to use/take up bus travel for attending their nearest school. faith or selective school. practical walking & cycling thresholds unavoidable longer journeys. This is one of the main reasons why Although we have already achieved choose these as their normal travel to Bournemouth has the highest rate of our government target to reduce car school options. ‘car journeys to school’ out of all the use by 3% in the 5 years to 2011. Our authorities in the South West region. aim with your help is to continue this Recognised walk thresholds This represents a major obstacle for downward trend. 800m/ ½ mile for Infant the strategy as many pupils live too far The strategy, accessible via our website, and Primary Schools. away to walk or cycle to their preferred is a comprehensive working document 2km/¼ miles for school. Many children not only cross that will be reviewed annually. It contains Secondary Schools. data and policy initiatives and provides The provision of school transport is becoming more complicated

The positives are that the majority of It has also emerged that parents’ those living within walking or cycling main desire is for a good school close distances of their school do walk or to where they live. Consequently, if cycle. During the school travel plan there are sufficiently attractive schools Young people process pupils expressed a preference located where people live, sustainable deserve safe and to walk or cycle to school with friends travel becomes the default choice. which indicates a big potential for We will work towards making local affordable travel to sustainable travel. schools more attractive to local people. “ education, leisure

Data collected for travel modes from School Census 2009 and employment. (Compulsory School Age 5-15) shows Louise Ellman MP

car (including The challenges faced in the provision of public transport where a discounted vans and public Aged 5-15 Jan 2009 taxis) car share transport walking cycling other of school transport are, however, ” pass is available. complex, with various initiatives such as Bournemouth 36.8% 1.6% 14.4% 40.8% 5.7% 0.6% Our intention is to maintain the existing personalised learning options for 14-19 National 27.2% 2.9% 17.5% 49.5% 2.1% 0.7% public transport network, supplement year olds and extension of school hours South West 28.7% 3.4% 16.8% 47.6% 2.7% 0.8% or subsidise the public transport expanding educational opportunities to network as far as possible where young people. In the 11-15 age secondary commercial services are not available, school category the travel mode In this ‘anywhere to anywhere’ seek improved quality and reduce cost data reveals cycling to our environment the most realistic solution of travel to students. “Fear factors” schools in Bournemouth at 10.1% is the provision of a comprehensive mean this option is less likely to lead to which is fantastic! This compares public transport network that meets the significantly greater numbers travelling to the national figure of 3.2% needs of the majority, and is affordable to primary schools by bus and therefore and shows the demand for good to users. One encouraging sign is that options for dedicated bus transport cycling infrastructure on the recent local transport studies and some to sites (similar to the journey to school. travel plans have USA’s yellow bus system) will only be identified students would support use considered in the long term, and subject to Central Government Funding. Further information www.gettingabout.info Includes accessible transport information for public transport, dedicated school Facts & Figures bus routes, mobility, walking, cycling, community transport plus a journey planner between specific postcodes and key local destinations. www.bournemouth.lookingahead.info There are currently 20,290 pupils A resource for young people looking to go on to or other training. attending schools in Bournemouth. www.bournemouth.gov.uk 10,259 Primary, 9773 Secondary and The full strategy is published on the council website under Planning & Transport 258 Special1. section. Go to the Transport and Travel tab then School Travel Plans tab to view the link. There’s additional information on Road Safety, Education & Training, Road 13,811 or 68% of pupils do not We provide a School Crossing Safety Campaigns, School Crossing Patrols, Cycle Training, Local Travel, St James attend their nearest school2. Patrol Service at 46 sites in Home Zone, North-South Cycling & Walking Route and more. Approximately 7,236 pupils (36%) are the Borough. www.bournemouth.gov.uk/localtravel driven to school on a daily basis2. Child Pedestrian skills training The local travel tab will take you directly to the travel section. The full strategy The journey to school largely (based on the nationally recognised is published under School Travel Plans tab. coincides with peak commuter Kerbcraft model) is given to 6 & 9 year olds each year. www.carsharedorset.com traffic and represents 20% The site has been designed to enable you to carshare in and around Dorset, of all vehicles at these times. Approx 1750 pupils per year receive this training. Bournemouth and . Percentage of Year 6 school www.travelinesw.com We have 20 mph zones around population aged 10/11 in 2009 UK’s No 1 website for integrated public transport information. undertaking the Bournemouth 18 School sites in Bournemouth.

Level 2 cycle training scheme is The Strategy includes: Contact details 38.5% i.e. 590 pupils. Programmes for minor infrastructure Sustainable School Travel Passenger Transport – School Bus As at March 2010 we have 37 improvements such as safe 01202 454652 Permits & SEN Travel Assistance LEA schools out of 39 schools who pedestrian access, 20 mph zones 01202 458944 have a School Travel Plan (STP) plus Road Safety Engineering, Collision and better signage. Investigation and Prevention Bournemouth Information Service – 1 . 01202 454871 Children Services Continued support for specific 20.8% of Bournemouth & Poole General Enquiries number promotions such as National Road Safety Education, reception age pupils are overweight 01202 456222 Walk to School Week, Walk on Training & Publicity or obese and by Year 6, 28.7% are in Mon – Thurs 9 am – 4.30 pm Wednesday campaigns, Walky 01202 454654 this category. (NHS Bournemouth & Fri – 9am – 4pm Wheely Wednesdays and Walking School Crossing Patrol & Poole Healthy Weight Management Road Safety Team Weeks each term. Cycle Training Courses Programme 2008/9). Planning & Transport 01202 454636 Work with Sustrans (Sustainable Town Hall Annexe, St Stephens Rd

Transport) on ‘Links to Schools’ Cycling Officer Bournemouth BH2 6EA 01202 451194 projects to improve walking and E: [email protected] cycling access to a number Public Transport Officer www.bournemouth.gov.uk/localtravel 1 Data taken from School Census Jan 2010 of schools in Bournemouth. 01202 454645 www.GettingAbout.info 2 Travel Mode Data – Jan 2009

Travelling to school by walking or cycling is a major opportunity “ to promote increased physical activity in children and reducing dependence on private car transport.

Louise Ellman MP Chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee ”