Image: Sustrans
The percentage of pupils travelling actively to school in Scotland during 2021 remained close to the levels seen during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s according to data from a new survey published by Sustrans Scotland.
The survey, answered by 418,000 school pupils and over 37,000 nursery children, found that 50.3% normally travel to school in an active way, without any form of motorised transport.
This is down from the high of 51.2% in 2020, but still notably higher than pre-pandemic levels of 47.8% in 2019.
At 43.6%, walking remains the most common way school pupils get to school.
Although there has been a decrease from the 44.8% in 2020, the figure remains up on the 2019 low of 41%.
The number of pupils cycling to school continues to rise, up from 3.8% in 2020 to 4.0% in 2021 – as does the number who normally scooter or skate, up from 2.6% in 2020 to 2.7% in 2021.
Dr Cecilia Oram, Sustrans Scotland, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see that active travel to school has remained close to the high levels seen during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The walking, cycling, scootering, and skating habits developing during the pandemic seem to be sticking, however, we won’t really know to what extent until we gather the data over the next few years.
“Looking ahead it will be interesting to see the impacts of the Access to Bikes initiative, free bus travel for under 22-year-olds and the record increase in funding for active travel.”
Comment on this story