Children cycling to school in Scotland reaches highest level for 17 years - but so does those being driven
Nearly one in 20 school run journeys are now by bike
Children cycling to school has reached its highest rate for at least 17 years while those being driven has also risen.
Youngsters on bikes accounted for nearly one in 20 journeys to school last year, but despite many campaigns to cut car use, the proportion being driven to school has edged up over the last decade and is also at its highest level since the poll started in 2008.
According to the latest official annual survey of how pupils get to classes, walking remains the most popular travel mode - despite rates declining for a fifth year.
Walking accounted for only 38.8 per cent of journeys to school compared to 42.8 per cent in 2016.
By contrast, the proportion of children being driven to school over that period increased from 22.3 to 24 per cent. Those who opted for “park and stride” - walking the last part of the way - increased from 9.3 to 10.2 per cent, the latest research found.
The cycling rate was up from 3.9 to 4.7 per cent, matching the level reached in 2023, while those scooting or skating remained at 2.9 per cent.
However, there was a continued significant drop off in cycling as pupils moved from primary to secondary school with the rate falling from 7 to 1.3 per cent.
Bus travel increased slightly, from 16.6 to 17.2 per cent, in the fifth consecutive annual rise, which takes it to the highest level for a decade. Taxi use fell marginally from 1.8 to 1.6 per cent.
The survey, conducted last September by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust - formerly Sustrans - and funded by Transport Scotland, polled nearly 500,000 school and nursery children. Nearly 80 per cent of schools took part.
Ian Maxwell, of Spokes, the Lothian cycle campaign, said: “This news from the survey is very welcome but we are very concerned at the low rate of cycling amongst secondary pupils, and call for renewed emphasis on providing safe routes to secondary schools.”
Cycling Scotland spokesperson Mark McIntyre said: “Being driven to school cannot become the norm if we want young people to grow up healthy, independent and be able to get around their own communities safely.
“More children cycling to school is good news and follows growing evidence that long-term investment in protected cycle lanes is helping thousands more people to travel by bike.”
“Investment in Bikeability Scotland has seen more young people benefit, with 14 local authorities now providing on-road training in every primary school.”
Dr Lee Muir, head of programmes (Scotland) at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, said: “It’s encouraging to see cycling to school reach its highest level since the survey began, while active travel remains the most common way for pupils in Scotland to get to school.
“However, the decline in walking and the significant drop in cycling between primary and secondary school show there is still more to do to ensure every child can travel actively and safely to school.
“We know that getting regular physical activity is important for young people’s health, wellbeing and development, and helps to build life-long confidence, independence and healthy habits.”
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