UK unveils major plan to boost walking and cycling to school

File: Public Sector Executive

According to The Guardian, under the new strategy, ministers aim for at least 60% of children in England to travel to school by walking, cycling or other wheeled transport by 2035. The plan marks the first significant change in active travel policy since Boris Johnson's government and will see thousands of new safe routes and crossings built around schools. Officially launched on Friday, the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy also sets a target for at least 55% of short urban journeys to be made through active travel by 2035. The targets were included after campaigners criticised an earlier draft of the strategy for lacking clear goals.

As part of the programme, the government has pledged £4.5 billion for active travel projects over the next five years. The school-focused scheme aims to create 5,000 new routes and 10,000 crossings by 2030. However, experts say reaching the target may prove challenging. Currently, around 45% of pupils travel to school using active methods. Unlike previous programmes that mainly focused on primary school children, the new target covers all pupils aged five to 16.