Benefits of Using Active Travel to Get to and from School

Contents:

Benefits of using active travel to get to and from school

What are active travel routes to school?

How can I identify and promote active travel routes to school?

Appendix 1: Hands Up! Student Survey (baseline data collection template – option 1)

Appendix 2: Student Survey (baseline data collection template – option 2)

Appendix 3: Parent Survey (baseline data collection template)

Appendix 4: Walkability Checklist

Appendix 5: Example School Active Travel Route Maps

Appendix 6: Hands Up! Student Survey (follow up data collection template – option 1)

Appendix 7: Student Survey (follow up data collection template – option 2)

Appendix 8: Parent Survey (follow up data collection template)

Appendix 9: Other Useful Information/Resources/Research

Benefits of using active travel to get to and from school

Whilst many of us know that physical activity is great for overall health and wellbeing, the challenge is often finding the time to do it. Children have to get to and from school somehow, and by choosing to travel by foot, bike, scooter or skateboard children (and adults travelling with them!)are more likely to achieve their recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

Schools are also prone to high traffic and parking congestion around pick up and drop off times. More students and families walking and riding to and from school (even part of the way) can help to reduce traffic and parking congestion around schools. This also helps to create safer communities for children to walk and ride.

Active travel is also really important for children’s learning and development.Road safety is a vital skill for everyone andis not something children just ‘get’ automatically, and is not something children learn from the back seat of a car.Walking, scooting, riding or skating to and from school helps childrento learn important road safety skills which will help keep them safe when they start to travel independently.

Benefits to active travel include:

Helps children meet their recommended60 minutes of physical activity per daywhich is great for their health and wellbeing
Less traffic and parking congestion around schools
More children and families using school children’s crossings (schools may be eligible for a crossing supervisor if there is lots of pedestrian and cyclists using the children’s crossing)
Less cars at pick up and drop off times which creates safer places for children to walk and ride
Children learn valuable road safety skills which will help to keep them safe when they start to travel independently
Children will be more familiar and connected to their neighbourhood
Children have the opportunity to be social as they are able to walk with their friends, family and members of the community
Children will be more alert and have better concentration levels which will improve learning at school

What are activetravel routes to school?

Active travel routes with designated ‘pick up/drop off points’ are safe and accessible routes children and families can use to walk and ride along to get to and from school. Active travel routes support everyone to use active travel to and from school, particularly families and students that live too far away from the school to walk and ride. Families simply park their car at the ‘pick up/drop off points’ (or anywhere along the active travel route) so children can walk and ride the remainder of the way.

This step-by-step guide and the templates have been developed to support your school to identify and promote active travel routes to school.

Step 1: Develop an active travel working group

Schools will have different approaches, but ideally your working group will involve a range of people to plan and share tasks. It may be a group of staff or parents, a class within your school, or a mix of students, parents, staff and local organisations! Consider using existing structures or groups rather than create a new or separate working group.

Step 2: Collect baseline data

Collect baseline databefore commencing your active travel routes project. This can be used latertodetermine whether there has been an increase in active travel.Data collection templates: Appendix 1, 2 & 3

Step 3: Identify where people live around the school

Knowing where families are travelling from will help you to identify accessible active travel routes. You could do this by printing a map of your schools local area and marking each family’s residence on the map (tip -children love to colour in where they live!). If you are registered to theHealthy Together Achievement Program, the City of Greater Geelong can organise an A0 sized 1.5km radius map of your school for you.

Step 4: Identify potential active travel routes to school with ‘pick up/drop off points’

Now you know where students are travelling from, identify active travel routes (approx 500m – 1km) that families and children can use to travel to and from the school. Keep in mind that the routes should be accessible, safe and enjoyable to travel along by foot, bike or scooter. At the end of each route, identifya ‘pick up/drop off point’that will show where families can safely drop or pick up children. Make sure there is suitable parking at the pick up/drop off points(tip – recreation reservesand, community centres can make great ‘pick up/drop off points’).If you are registered to the Healthy Together Achievement Program, the City of Greater Geelong can support your school to identify suitable active travel routes and ‘pick up/drop off’ points.

Step 5: Assess potential active travel routes to school

Now you have identified a number of active travel routes you want to check that they are accessible, safe and enjoyable. There are resources available that can help you assess the routes(Appendix 4: Walkability Checklist). You may find that you identify hazards or issues that make walking and riding difficult along the active travel routes.Contact the City of Greater Geelong, they may be able to improve or remove the hazards you have identified or provide you with solutions.If you are registered to the Healthy Together Achievement Program, the City of Greater Geelong can alsoconduct an assessment of your potential active travel routes.

Step 6: Create your own school active travel route map

A map showing your safe active travel routes is a great tool for promoting and encouraging active travel within your school. Be as creative as you like! You could draw the map using a drawing program on your computer, draw it online at or ask a class to hand draw the map(Appendix 5: Example school active travel maps). If you are registered to the Healthy Together Achievement Program, the City of Greater Geelong can develop a map which shows families where the active travel routes are.

Step 7: Promote and encourage use of your active travel routes

Promote your new active travel routes and the benefits of walking, riding, scooting and skating to and from school. Examples include: launch your active travel routes with an active travel to school day, hold regular active travel to school days (i.e. Wheeling Wednesday), promote your active travel routes map, include walking and riding in the curriculum (i.e. Bike Ed) and promote active travel through school newsletters,online school portals, Facebook pages or posters. Useful information and resources: Appendix 9

Step 8: Collect follow up data

Collect follow up data after your active travel routes have been promoted. These can help you determine whether there have been any improvements in school active travel levels.Templates: Appendix 6, 7 & 8

Step 9: Review and celebrate!

Continue to work together to promote and encourage active travel.Share learning’s with the whole school community and don’t forget to celebrate your successes!

Appendix 1: Hands Up! Student Survey (baseline data collection template – option 1)

Developed by the Bicycle Network:

Appendix 2:Student Survey (baseline data collection template – option 2)

ACTIVE TRAVEL SURVEY

Dear Student,

{Insert school name here} are registered to the Healthy Together Achievement Program and we are working towards being recognised as a ‘Health Promoting School’. One of the health areas we are working on is ‘physical activity’.

Active Travel is great for health and wellbeing and improves traffic and parking congestion around schools. {Insert school name here} would like to encourage and support more students and families to choose more active travel alternatives such as walking, riding, scooting or skating to and from school.

This survey should only take a few minutes to complete.

1. In what year are you in at school?

Prep/foundation

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

2. How far do you have to travel to get from home to school?

0 – 1 km

1 – 2 km

2 – 3 km

3 – 4 km

4 – 5 km

>5km

3. How do you 'usually' get to and from school (3-5 days per week)?
If you use more than one of the following, choose the most highly used

Car

Carpool (with other students)

Walk

Bike

Scooter

Skate

Bus

Other (please specify) ______

4. Why do you choose to travel to and from the school in the 'usual' way you picked above?
Choose up to 3 most important reasons

It’s the way my parents/carer likes me to travel to and from school

Too far to walk or ride

I have a lot to carry

I am too young to travel alone

Too much traffic

Safety

The weather

I am dropped off en route to parents/carers activities

I have to pick up/drop off others

Most convenient

Fastest

Not physically able to walk or ride

Only option available

Health and fitness

I like to travel with friends

Good for the environment

Saves money

Other (please specify)______

5. How often do you currently use active travel to get to and from school (walk, ride, scoot, skate etc.)?

Never

Sometimes (1-2 days per week)

Most of the time (3-4 days per week)

All the time (5 days per week)

6. What could be done to support you to active travel (walk, ride, scoot, skate etc.) to and from school?
Choose up to 3 that are important to you

Knowing where there are safe walking and cycling routes to school

More information about active travel and public transport options

Improved facilities (bike storage etc.)

Reduced traffic around the school

Safer crossings near the school

Organising carpooling/ride sharing

Improved public transport services (frequency, reliability)

Safer public transport

I feel there is nothing more that needs to be done

I’m not interested in changing my travel choices

Other (please specify)______

7. If made available, would you walk or ride from a designated pick up/drop off point within 1km of the school?

YES

If no, why?______

8. Have you got anything else you would like to add?

Thank you!

Appendix 3: Parent Survey (baseline data collection template)

ACTIVE TRAVEL SURVEY

Dear Parent,

This survey should only take a few minutes to complete.

1. How many children do you have attending the school?

In what years are your children in at the school (tick all that apply)

Prep/foundation

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

3. How far do your children need to travel to get from home to school?

0 – 1 km

1 – 2 km

2 – 3 km

3 – 4 km

4 – 5 km

>5 km

4. How do your children 'usually' get to and from school (3-5 days per week)?
If your children travel using more than one of the following, choose 1of the following that is used the most

Car

Carpool (with other students)

Walk

Bike

Scooter

Skate

Bus

Other (please specify) ______

5. Why do your children travel to and from the school in the 'usual' way you provided above?
Choose up to 3 most important reasons

Too far for my child to walk or ride

My child has a lot to carry

My child is too young to travel alone

Too much traffic

Safety

The weather

I have to pick up/drop off others

I drop my child off en route to other activities

Most convenient

Fastest

Not physically able to walk or ride

Only option available

Health and fitness

My child likes to travel with friends

Good for the environment

Saves money

Other (please specify)______

6. How often would your children actively travel to school (i.e. walk, ride, scoot or skate)?

Never

Only at Special Events (i.e. walk to school day, ride to school day)

Sometimes(1-2 days per week)

Most of the time (3-4 days per week)

All the time (5 days per week)

7. What could be done to support you and your children to walk, ride, scoot or skate more often to and from school?Choose 1 option that is the most important to you.

More information about active travel and public transport options

Knowing where there are safe walking and cycling routes to school

Reduced traffic around the school

Improved facilities (i.e. bike and scooter storage)

Safer crossings near the school

Organising carpooling/ride sharing

Improved public transport services (frequency, reliability)

Safer public transport

I’m not interested in changing my travel choices

I feel there is nothing more that needs to be done

Other (please specify)

8. If made available, would you consider picking up/dropping off your children at a designated‘pick up/drop off’ point within 1km of the school so they can walk or ride the remainder of the way?

YES

If no, why?______

9. Have you got anything else you would like to add?

Thank you!

Appendix 4: Walkability Checklist

Developed by Victoria Walks:

Appendix 5: Example School Active Travel Route Maps

Appendix 6: Hands Up! Student Survey(follow up data collection template – option 1)

Developed by the Bicycle Network:

Appendix 7: Student Survey (follow up data collection template – option 2)

ACTIVE TRAVEL SURVEY

Dear Student

{Insert name of school} has been encouraging students and families to choose more active travel alternatives such as walking and cycling to and from school, and initiatives have been implemented to support this including new active travel routes to school.

This survey will help us to better understand the outcomes of the active travel routes, and to continue to develop and improve options for active travel. It will only take a couple of minutes to complete and we encourage everyone to participate!

What year are you in at the school?

Prep/foundation

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

How far do you have to travel to get from home to school?

0 – 1 km

1 – 2 km

2 – 3 km

3 – 4 km

4 – 5 km

>5km

How do you 'usually' get to and from school (3-5 days per week)?
If you use more than one of the following, choose the most highly used

Car

Carpool (with other students)

Walk

Bike

Scooter

Skate

Bus

Other (please specify) ______

How often do you currently use active travel to get to and from school (walk, ride, scoot, skate etc.)?

Never

Sometimes (1-2 days per week)

Most of the time (3-4 days per week)

All the time (5 days per week)

Have you been dropped off or picked up along the new active travel route/s so they can walk or ride the remainder of the way to school?

Yes

No, I wasn’t aware of the active travel routes

Comments:______

Have you seen ‘active travel’ promoted through the school?

Yes

If yes, where have you heard about it? (tick all that apply)

E-newsletter

Posters displayed around school

Active travel route launch

Speaking to a teacher

School website

Another parent

Other ______

Have you got any additional comments?

Thank you!

Appendix 8: Parent Survey (follow up data collection template)

ACTIVE TRAVEL SURVEY

Dear Parent,

How many children do you have attending the school?