As
part
of an initiative from sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the
children - aged between seven and 11- put forward their ideas which
included increasing the number of cycle paths, creating better crossings
and implementing car free zones around schools.
According to a recent
national survey, 50 per cent of children in the UK want to cycle to
school, yet only two per cent do; a third of children are now driven
to school, many for journeys of less than one mile.
Paul Osborne, Sustrans Director of School
Travel, comments, “There are many factors that are currently limiting
children from cycling to school. Limitations from schools - much like
the Schonrock children are experiencing in London - are quite common, as
are stories of parents restricting their children
due to safety fears.”
Television psychologist,
Emma Kenny, believes that these fears are unfounded and that children
should be encouraged to be independent. She says, “Allowing
children independence, like cycling to school, will increase their
resilience. Increased resilience results in children being happier, more
active and alert.”
The letters were received as
a result of a competition that Sustrans conducted as part of its work
with schools. Children were asked to write a letter to the
new Prime Minister on ways that the government could improve their
journey to school. The winning entry was written by Joshua Newby, aged
11 from Nottinghamshire. Sustrans has contacted the government and is
currently waiting for an opportunity for the children
to go along and present the letters and their ideas.
Paul adds, “Sustrans’
experience of doubling cycling in the schools that we work with shows
that it is possible to encourage children to become more active,
confident and independent. We should listen to what children and their
parents say but we must address their principal concern about road
safety; by reducing traffic speeds; teaching every child road safety in
school; and improving driving behaviour near children.”
Emma continues, ”When your
children go to school, you need to think of them as an individual person
and not an extension of yourself – listen to them and see
exactly how they want to travel to school and try to support that.”
Further
information about Sustrans and Bike It, including other news releases,
is available through our website:
www.sustrans.org.uk