1. Alison Butler Road Safety Officer (Cycling) London Borough of Hackney
London’s School Travel Plan Programme: Sustainable Travel in the heart of the Community
Alison Butler
Road Safety Officer (Cycling)
London Borough of Hackney

2. The Problem Increased car use on the school run = CO2 emissions
Poor air quality
Traffic congestion
Rising levels of obesity
Poor attention levels in students
Staff access problems

3. Cost of poor transport policy nationally:
c.£38-48bn
Total (Figures from Stephen McFarlane, DfT)
£3-5bn
Noise
£ bn
GHG emissions
£9.8bn
Physical inactivity
£4.5- £10.6bn
Air quality
£8.7bn
Traffic Collisions
£10.9bn
Excess delays
Urban areas / year
Cost category

4. Inactive travel: the health consequences
UK: 2/3 adults not physically active enough, meaning:
2/3 overweight or obese
Linked to CHD, stroke, diabetes, cancer
20-30% higher risk of premature death
Costs £5m per local health authority every year
(Figures from Stephen McFarlane, DfT)

5. Active travel: the health benefits
Cycling as an example:
Risk of major diseases reduced by 50%
Risk of premature death reduced by %
39% lower rate of mortality
Health benefits currently outweigh safety risks by 20:1
(Stephen McFarlane, DfT)

6. The Solution
Encourage modal shift away from the car, towards walking & cycling (& public transport)
‘School Travel Plans’ (STPs)
Joint national initiative since Govt depts for Education and Transport
Supported & administered by Transport for London (TfL) from 2004

7. Mayor’s Transport Strategy
“School Travel Plans: the London boroughs will work with schools to develop plans that encourage more sustainable forms of travel and reduce traffic congestion”
Mayors Transport Strategy Proposal

8. Objectives of London School Travel Plan programme:
• Reduce the number of car trips on journeys to and from school
• Remove barriers, both perceived and actual, to walking, cycling and using public transport for school journeys
• Increase the number of young people and adults choosing ‘active
travel’ options over the car
• Increase understanding among school communities of the travel
options available to them
• Provide information that allows school communities to understand
the benefits of active, sustainable transport, and to use this information to make informed travel choices
Bla bla bls

9. Targets:
London – 100% schools (both state and independent) will have a school travel plan in place by end 2009
Nationally – 100% by 2010

10. What is a School Travel Plan?
At its most basic:
AIM: Bring about a change in home to school travel patterns to cut congestion and pollution and allow pupils to take regular exercise. To do this in a a safe environment.
National Policy:
Local Policy:
London - MTS
Borough - UDP, LIP, BSP, LEA policies .

11. What is a School Travel Plan?
Description of the school
identification of problems/concerns
results of survey & evidence of consultation
clear targets and objectives
details of proposed measures and timetable for implementation with responsibilities identified
proposals for monitoring and review
Official sign-off & approval

12. Funding available to schools:
One-off capital grants:
Primary: £ £5 per pupil
Secondary: £ £5 per pupil
Special: £ £5 per pupil
Mayor’s cycle parking
Up to £3000 available on application to schools with an active plan
Additional: LCC, Sustrans, National Lottery…

13. Resources available:
Curriculum packs; linking cycling and walking to science, art, geography...
Walk on Wednesday (WoW) resource materials – badges, charts etc
Bikeability – cycle training for the 21st century
Bike It Officers
Upgrade transition packs
Theatre in Education

14. Where funding/support comes from:
National Level: DCSF (Children, Schools & Families) joint funds with DfT (Transport)
Living Streets, Sustrans, LCC
Regional level: TfL (Transport for London) coordinates local authorities (LAs)
Local Level: LAs ‘house’ School Travel Advisors (STAs) and administer funding to schools. Can also bid for/provide further funding for STP-related activities
School Level: Independent fund-raising

15. Links to Road Safety Strong focus on partnership working
Importance of road safety skills particularly practical pedestrian and cyclist training
Curriculum work building on best practice in RS field
Many schools require engineering works some of which will be collision remedial
Road safety audits and reviews part of STP
Less cars, more cyclists & pedestrians = safer streets: ‘Safety in Numbers’

16. Another burden on schools?
NAHT support
Increasingly recognized by OFSTED
Links to ‘Every Child Matters’
Can be part of other school planning
Healthy schools/Eco Schools/Sustainable Schools
Road safety education
Pulls together what the school is already doing in a co-ordinated and supported way

17. Role of the STA Report back to TFL
School Travel Advisor in every London Borough
Advice and support to schools
Guidance on what the travel plan should contain
Assistance with curriculum work and resources
Liaison with engineers, RSOs etc
Help with funding sources
Report back to TFL

18. Role of TfL Schools Team
Advice and support to boroughs
Guidance on STPs and related issues
Training provision
Quality Assurance
Strategic links
Report back to Govt and TFL

19. Role of STP ‘Champion’
Based in school – teacher, parent, governor, or learning mentor
Write/review/rewrite STP
Co-ordinate school community stakeholders: Governors, parents, school council, staff, pupils, local community groups
Ensure implementation of action plan

20. Accreditation Since 2007 Rewards schools for keeping plan ‘active’
Bronze ‘Sustainable’
Silver ‘Higher Standards’
Gold ‘Outstanding’
Platinum ‘School of the Year’
Annual awards ceremony
Eligible for prioritised funding/resources

21. Results so far… In London – 3,100 schools
In 2005, approximately 1500 travel plans in place - Mainly primary schools
By July 2009, 2600 schools – 88%
6.2% modal shift away from car use across 33 boroughs
5 years in London – work just beginning…

22. The future:
Monitoring: schools need to keep plan active and gather data on modal shift
Document: the STP itself is a lot of paperwork – needs to be simplified
Keep rewarding practice – ‘active’ plans
Recession – STAs under threat, but key to keeping momentum. Soft measures at local level not always expensive.
More joint working from national to local level. E.g. Health authorities: from DH at national level to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) at local level, and DECC (Energy & Climate Change).
Next target: Every school a sustainable school – food, energy, travel…

23. Useful websites/ resources/contacts:
School Travel Accreditation website, including guide booklets:
For further information, including curriculum resources on walking and cycling, contact:
Alison Butler
Road Safety Officer/Cycle Training Manager, L.B. Hackney
Ross Butcher
Assistant School Travel Advisor (London)