Transport is the single biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the UK (a whopping 26% of the country’s total emissions). How we travel also impacts air pollution, road safety, and our physical and mental wellbeing.
Make your route to school active!
This Climate Action Countdown you can be an Active Travel Champion! Many hands make light work, so the more people involved the better – you could even set up an Active Travel working group to help share tasks.
Could you think about setting up a bike bus?
These are a great way of helping people make everyday journeys, whether it’s to school, to work or to services in your community.
What is a bike bus?
A bike bus is an organised group cycle on a set route with timetabled stops along the way.
It’s a great chance to get some fresh air and travel alongside friends on your daily trips.
You can hop on the bike bus as it passes your stop and leave wherever you need to get to. Unlike trips made by sports or leisure cycling groups, bike buses are for everyday journeys. They provide a safe and easy environment for people to cycle on roads, as a bike bus moves as a unit which is visible to other road users.
This is particularly important at busy commuting times when you might feel less confident cycling. A bike bus is similar to a walking bus, which is most often made up of children walking to school together.
Find out how you can set up your own school bike bus.
If you don’t cycle, could you set up a walking school bus with your friends?
Did you know?
Students who cycle, walk, or scoot to school tend to arrive more relaxed, alert, and ready to start the day than those who travel by car.
Want to do more? Spotlight on Sustrans
Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. School Streets tackles the congestion, poor air quality and road safety concerns that many schools experience, by restricting motor traffic at the school gates for a short period of time, generally at drop-off and pick-up times.
For more on active transport visit Sustrans.
Useful resources