Reclaiming the journey to school: A path to healthier futures
At a glance
Over the past 40 years in Australia, the way children travel to and from school has changed dramatically, with the rate of children walking and cycling plummeting from 75% to just 25%. While government spending on active transport is increasing, current budget allocations still fall short of the United Nations' recommendation of 20%.As transport emissions rise, the need for structural changes to revive active school transport becomes increasingly urgent. How can we reclaim a healthier, more connected way of life for our children?
Over the past 40 years in Australia, the way children travel to and from school has changed dramatically. As transport emissions rise, the need for structural changes to revive active school transport becomes increasingly urgent. How can we reclaim a healthier, more connected way of life for our children?
The benefits of active transport for children
Investing in active transport for school children fosters independence, enhances social skills, and provides valuable parent-child bonding time. For every dollar spent on active transport infrastructure, there is a fivefold return in health savings.
Sedentary lifestyles contribute to obesity, diabetes, respiratory problems, and heart disease. There is also increasing concern about the impact of air pollution from vehicles. Encouraging more walking or cycling to school can help alleviate these issues, promoting physical health and reducing the risk of obesity and other rising childhood diseases. Children who engage in active transport are also more likely to continue these behaviours into adulthood, promoting lifelong healthy habits.
Addressing the challenges
The decline in active transport to school can be attributed to several factors. Societal changes, such as the rise in dual-income households and the rapid pace of modern life driven by technology, all play a significant role. Many parents feel pressed for time, often rushing to work or after-school activities. Additionally, urban sprawl has led to expanding communities, and educational choices mean that some children have to travel greater distances to schools outside their catchment areas.
Safety concerns are another major factor discouraging active transport to and from school. Parents worry about the high volume of cars, the speed of vehicles, and the lack of safe infrastructure such as dedicated bike lanes, footpaths, and pedestrian crossings. The fear of accidents is heightened in areas where traffic is heavy and fast-moving. Sometimes when dealing with small children, putting the kids in the car seems like the easier option.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. By acknowledging these realities, we can work towards practical solutions that fit within the busy lives of modern families and plan our infrastructure holistically, making active transport not only possible but preferred.
Safety concerns are another major factor discouraging active transport to and from school. Parents worry about the high volume of cars, the speed of vehicles, and the lack of safe infrastructure such as dedicated bike lanes, footpaths, and pedestrian crossings. The fear of accidents is heightened in areas where traffic is heavy and fast-moving. Sometimes when dealing with small children, putting the kids in the car seems like the easier option.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. By acknowledging these realities, we can work towards practical solutions that fit within the busy lives of modern families and plan our infrastructure holistically, making active transport not only possible but preferred.
Engaging with the community
A recent report from Transport for NSW, ‘Active Travel to School in NSW’, revealed that 58% of parents drop their children off and head straight home, especially on days when they work from home. This flexibility presents an opportunity to encourage active transport for at least some trips during the week.
By engaging with people and understanding their lives, we can develop measures that will inspire a shift towards more active modes of transport. Governments can collaborate with parents, schools, and communities to identify barriers to active transport and co-create solutions. By doing so, we can gain insights into current conditions for bike riders and pedestrians, as well as existing infrastructure and public transport locations. This collaborative approach can help identify issues and opportunities for future designs of bicycle and walking paths, ultimately improving traffic conditions.
Case studies like those from Sydney’s Willoughby City Council highlight the power of community engagement to co-create positive solutions. The Council has worked with Willoughby Public School, along with the parents and students, to design and upgrade walking and cycling routes to school to help reduce school traffic congestion at peak times. The project has involved curriculum-based learning and is so far proving to be a success. This demonstrates that by working together, we can create safer, more accessible environments for communities.
By engaging with people and understanding their lives, we can develop measures that will inspire a shift towards more active modes of transport. Governments can collaborate with parents, schools, and communities to identify barriers to active transport and co-create solutions. By doing so, we can gain insights into current conditions for bike riders and pedestrians, as well as existing infrastructure and public transport locations. This collaborative approach can help identify issues and opportunities for future designs of bicycle and walking paths, ultimately improving traffic conditions.
Case studies like those from Sydney’s Willoughby City Council highlight the power of community engagement to co-create positive solutions. The Council has worked with Willoughby Public School, along with the parents and students, to design and upgrade walking and cycling routes to school to help reduce school traffic congestion at peak times. The project has involved curriculum-based learning and is so far proving to be a success. This demonstrates that by working together, we can create safer, more accessible environments for communities.
Creating a supportive environment
To promote active transport, we need to create environments where walking and cycling are the preferred choices. This can involve a variety of measures, from enhancing infrastructure and bike storage to providing training and fostering supportive social norms.
Firstly, we need to increase investment in infrastructure that supports cycling and walking and connect these to public transport. This includes building protected cycle paths, pedestrian walkways, and crossings that are well-lit and safe. The upgrade to the intersection of Mount Lindesay Arterial Road and Illaweena Street in Brisbane’s southern suburbs is a great example.
While communities may be hesitant towards changes to road space, bike lanes are a more efficient use of space, benefiting local businesses, societal health, and reducing parental anxiety about cycling safety. They are also proven to slow down the speed of traffic, enhancing the safety of all road users.
The success of initiatives like the 30 km/h zones in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Manly have made streets safer, less stressful, and more welcoming for people walking, wheeling, and riding. In fact, it’s been so successful that the program will be expanded and rolled out in other areas across Sydney’s Northern Beaches. These programs are a powerful example of what can be achieved with thoughtful planning and community engagement.
Firstly, we need to increase investment in infrastructure that supports cycling and walking and connect these to public transport. This includes building protected cycle paths, pedestrian walkways, and crossings that are well-lit and safe. The upgrade to the intersection of Mount Lindesay Arterial Road and Illaweena Street in Brisbane’s southern suburbs is a great example.
While communities may be hesitant towards changes to road space, bike lanes are a more efficient use of space, benefiting local businesses, societal health, and reducing parental anxiety about cycling safety. They are also proven to slow down the speed of traffic, enhancing the safety of all road users.
The success of initiatives like the 30 km/h zones in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Manly have made streets safer, less stressful, and more welcoming for people walking, wheeling, and riding. In fact, it’s been so successful that the program will be expanded and rolled out in other areas across Sydney’s Northern Beaches. These programs are a powerful example of what can be achieved with thoughtful planning and community engagement.
Promoting active transport through education
Riding a bike is a skill that involves things like adapting to weather conditions, planning routes, wearing appropriate gear, and carrying personal belongings needed for the day. Providing maps, demarcating routes, and making the journey fun can encourage more children to walk or cycle to school. Examples from Paris, where school streets feature painted animals on streets or hopscotch on footpaths, show how small changes can make a big difference.
For active transport to become the norm, we need to foster a cultural shift where walking and cycling are seen as desirable and fun. Children should feel motivated to say, "I want to walk or ride to school today. That's what all my friends do!" This requires creating an environment where active transport is not only safe and convenient but also enjoyable and socially accepted.
The rise of e-bikes, particularly among teenagers, shows promise. It is common in places like Sydney’s Northern Beaches to see teenagers having fun on bikes. Despite substandard infrastructure, e-bikes are becoming a popular mode of transport, and supporting this trend is something we can capitalise on, which could have long-term benefits.
For active transport to become the norm, we need to foster a cultural shift where walking and cycling are seen as desirable and fun. Children should feel motivated to say, "I want to walk or ride to school today. That's what all my friends do!" This requires creating an environment where active transport is not only safe and convenient but also enjoyable and socially accepted.
The rise of e-bikes, particularly among teenagers, shows promise. It is common in places like Sydney’s Northern Beaches to see teenagers having fun on bikes. Despite substandard infrastructure, e-bikes are becoming a popular mode of transport, and supporting this trend is something we can capitalise on, which could have long-term benefits.
Seizing the opportunity
Reversing the decline in active transport requires changes at multiple levels. At the micro level, individual schools can implement changes that, while small, can serve as powerful case studies and significantly improve the experiences of individuals. This could be as simple as more bike storage at schools and on the street, or a new pedestrian crossing with animal designs to make it fun.
At the meso level, opportunities such as flexible working hours can support parents in choosing active transport. Parents should feel supported in their choices from employers for prioritising their children's health and wellbeing.
The success of initiatives will depend on changes at the macro level. Significant structural changes and increased funding from the government are needed. Government and community support, along with clear communication about the benefits of active transport, are also essential. Reducing speed limits, for example, may face initial community hesitation due to ingrained beliefs about travel times, but these changes are crucial for safety and sustainability, and their significant benefits need to be communicated better to the public.
Effective change requires collaboration between state governments and local councils. Ambitious plans, like the active transport to schools work in Willoughby, can be examples to others. Reversing the decline in active transport to schools involves a multifaceted approach where we work together to create environments that support and encourage walking and cycling. These are complex environments with a number of stakeholders and competing priorities.
Increasing the number of children that walk or cycle to school not only benefits children's health and development but also contributes to broader societal goals, such as reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transport habits. This is our opportunity to foster lifelong healthy behaviours and create a better future for our children.
At the meso level, opportunities such as flexible working hours can support parents in choosing active transport. Parents should feel supported in their choices from employers for prioritising their children's health and wellbeing.
The success of initiatives will depend on changes at the macro level. Significant structural changes and increased funding from the government are needed. Government and community support, along with clear communication about the benefits of active transport, are also essential. Reducing speed limits, for example, may face initial community hesitation due to ingrained beliefs about travel times, but these changes are crucial for safety and sustainability, and their significant benefits need to be communicated better to the public.
Effective change requires collaboration between state governments and local councils. Ambitious plans, like the active transport to schools work in Willoughby, can be examples to others. Reversing the decline in active transport to schools involves a multifaceted approach where we work together to create environments that support and encourage walking and cycling. These are complex environments with a number of stakeholders and competing priorities.
Increasing the number of children that walk or cycle to school not only benefits children's health and development but also contributes to broader societal goals, such as reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transport habits. This is our opportunity to foster lifelong healthy behaviours and create a better future for our children.