DfT funds two more years for School Travel Plans

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton and Schools Minister Andrew Adonis confirmed that funding would continue for the Travelling to School project, a joint initiative between the Department for Transport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families that encourages children to walk, cycle, or take public transport to school.

The project is based around the development of school travel plans, which set out how an individual school will encourage more sustainable travel and reduce car use. The funding will provide continued support for the network of local authority based school travel advisers, who work with schools to help them draw up and implement their plans.

Rosie Winterton said:

“Walking, cycling and taking public transport to school is a great way to beat congestion, help tackle climate change and improve children’s health and fitness.

“Travel plans are important in encouraging sustainable travel to school and over 14,000 schools in England now have one in place. By continuing this funding for another two years, we will continue the drive to help as many schools as possible beat the traffic in their areas.”

The Travelling to School project was launched in 2003. Current funding was due to end in March 2008, and will now continue until 2010.

CTC welcomed the news but is calling for cycling to be given as much school time as swimming.

CTC Director, Kevin Mayne, said: “We would like to see cycle training in the school curriculum in the same way as that other life skill, swimming; which whilst a thoroughly sustainable means of transport, is not very practical for getting to school.”