The Scottish Executive recently started to provide funding for new School Travel Co-ordinators who will promote safe and healthy travel for school children.

The creation of these new positions was one of the recommendations of a report by the Scottish School Travel Advisory Group which was set up to look at how to promote efficient, environmentally friendly ways of getting to and from school.

Announcing the funding, Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said: “We want to promote alternatives to the car run, improve safety at school gates by cutting down on traffic and encourage more healthy lifestyles to benefit all Scotland’s primary school children.”

Research has shown that across the UK:

• 20% of cars on the road at 8.50am  are taking children to school
• 23% of primary school age children travel to school by car
  • half of these live within 1km of school
• 12% of secondary school age children travel to school by car
  • half of these live within 2km of the school

Glasgow’s co-ordinators will work across local authority departments to provide facilities and co-ordinate the work of school travel teams, who will produce their school’s travel plan.
Interested in getting on board with a school travel plan for your school?

Phone: 0141 287 9373 for more information – your school could lead the way!