72% of respondents to a new survey by Brake believe that more children would walk or cycle to school if routes were safer.
In the survey, published on 15 June to coincide with the road safety charity’s 2016 Giant Walk, 38% of respondents said they are scared of traffic in their neighbourhood.
65% of those interviewed think school routes should be made safer for walkers and cyclists, with 67% calling for more dedicated walking and cycle paths.
The 2014 National Travel Survey showed that the average number of walking trips per person has decreased by 27% since 1995 in Britain. Less than a quarter (22%) of journeys and just 3% of miles travelled in Britain are now on foot.
Similarly, cycling still only accounts for a very small proportion of journeys, with just 2% of journeys and 1% of miles travelled made by bike.
Brake says that road safety is a major factor in these figures and that to encourage more children to walk and cycle to school, the UK must have lower speed limits, dedicated cycle lanes, wide pavements and safe places to cross the road.
Gary Rae, Brake’s director of communications and campaigns, said: “Giant Walk is a terrific opportunity to educate children about the importance of road safety and what advantages there are in walking to school for their own health and the environment. It is also a call on local drivers to make a big difference by slowing down to protect children on foot and bike."
”The road safety charity adds that to encourage more children to walk and cycle to school, the UK must have lower speed limits, dedicated cycle lanes, wide pavements and safe places to cross the road.”
They already exist! There is much more to altering people’s perceptions than just to keep on lowering speeds and altering the environment. Much has been done to infrastructure and to educational initiatives but still walking and cycling is low.
Tina Bracknell
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