Sustrans has published the first Children’s Walking and Cycling Index, designed to help understand the behaviours, barriers and attitudes affecting how children walk, wheel and cycle in the UK.
The report, published in partnership with Halfords, highlights the disconnect between children’s needs and the current state of transport systems.
It finds that 81% of children want more traffic-free paths and quiet routes for walking and cycling, while 78% want more cycle paths along roads physically separated from cars.
Some 80% want authorities to make sure more things they need to get to are within walking distance; the same percentage also in favour of more road crossings.
On the back of the findings, Sustrans is calling for children’s needs to be prioritised when councils are planning transport improvements in their area.
It says that transport design that is inclusive for children is safer and more accessible for all road users, opening up opportunities for healthier lives through giving people ‘a real choice’ about how they make short journeys in their area.
The report also shows that 1.36 billion trips are walked, wheeled or scooted by children each year in the UK.
Whilst most trips by children are made to and from school (38%), high numbers of trips are also taken for other purposeful journeys (32%) and to visit green space or for recreation (30%).
Sustrans says this shows the need to consider children’s travel beyond the journey to school.
Xavier Brice, chief executive of Sustrans, said: “Children’s views on travel are too often overlooked by decision-makers. Where they are considered, the focus tends to be on the school journey.
“This leaves out the vital role that travel plays in children’s day-to-day lives, supporting the development of their independence, socialisation skills and overall mental health and wellbeing.
“With the rise in child obesity and mental health issues showing no signs of stopping, making walking, wheeling and cycling the default for more journeys is vital. However, national statistics suggest both walking and cycling to school have fallen since 2002.
“By working in partnership, Sustrans and Halfords hope this new report will give a voice to children across the UK, reshaping how we approach children’s journeys so we can give them back the healthy independence that we all need for a better present and future.”
Cristina – Yes , in general cycling on footways is inconsiderate to pedestrians and not even safe as you are in the wrong position at junctions.
Legally shared use footways should be a last resort although there are some situations where no better option exists to join up routes.
Cyclists should not be expected to dismount in situations where driving is allowed and for some cyclists it would be impossible.
Side streets that provide direct links risk being rat-runs unless filtered and a lot of destinations are on high streets. Maybe it should be drivers who are kept away.
Paul Luton, Teddington
--1
I was given my first bike by my mother when I was 12 years old. At the same time she gave my first copy of the Highway Code and said: “You must never ever under any circumstances cycle on the pavement.” She told me I could cycle on any side street but must not cycle on main roads until I was older as it was too dangerous. I remember her saying “When you come to a main road you must get off your bike and walk it along the pavement very carefully, then when you come to the next side street you can get on your bike again.”
Her words taught me to respect the law and I can honestly say that as a cyclist for the next 40 years I never ever cycled on a pavement. I frequently avoided the busy main roads by taking a detour around the quiet side streets, or I got off my bike and walked it along a pavement next to the main road if it was particularly busy.
As a child and as an adult this was no problem. Children walked to and from school or got the bus. There were very few overweight children even though we occasionally spent our bus fare on an ice¬cream and walked home instead – sometimes a couple of miles!
There is absolutely no reason for children or adults to cycle on pavements. It is illegal and children should be taught to respect this, as I was, from an early age.
Christina Young, Liverpool
+7