For families, the school run can be one of the most stressful parts of the day, particularly if these trips are made by car. It can lead to conflict with local residents, when people park on residential roads during the school run, causing blocked driveways and other obstacles.
The perception that it is unsafe for children to walk or cycle to school leads to more parents driving, which in turn increases cars on the road, and worsens the feeling that there are no other safe options for children.
Through this plan, we want to find ways to enable cleaner and greener ways of getting children to and from school on routes that are safe for them to travel independently. This will reduce stress for parents, positively change children’s attitudes to active travel, improve physical and mental wellbeing for children and create safe, traffic-free streets around schools.
Current challenges
Often children are the most very aware of environmental challenges, and eager to be involved in reducing our carbon footprint. Research with children in Bath shows they would prefer to cycle or scoot to school than to walk or drive. However, compared with cities of a similar size, school trips in Bath have relatively high levels of walking (45%) and driving (29%), but low levels of cycling.
What you've told us
In response to our consultation in early 2021, people strongly supported all of the ideas we presented to provide cleaner, greener school travel – suggesting that adults are as keen as children to change the way we conduct trips to and from school in Bath.
What this new plan means for you
Our vision
We want to enable healthier, safer and greener ways for everyone to travel to and from school.
A shift to walking, cycling and public transport will reduce congestion more generally across the city at peak times, as well as improving the environment for residents on streets close to schools.
Cleaner, safer streets for schools
- New walking and cycling facilities near schools will encourage more children to walk or cycle rather than be driven.
- Harmful pollution levels around schools will be reduced, protecting children’s health.
- Road safety around schools will be improved by parking management, traffic calming and speed restrictions.
Better bus services
- Further support for public transport journeys will improve accessibility and reliability for those who live too far away from school to walk or cycle.
Find out more
To learn more about parts of the plan which will benefit you in particular, you may want to explore the following sections.