Going to School
Cycling through green spaces, picking up friends along the route, nipping through pedestrian short cuts and chatting all the way; taking your children to school without climbing into a car is often quicker, cheaper, and nicer for everyone involved.
In a recent survey, Oxfordshire County Council found that 33% of school journeys in Oxfordshire are taken by car, but only 12.9% of people actually want to travel this way. And no surprise; switching to more sustainable forms of travel is linked to better mental and physical health for children, teenagers and their carers, it encourages greater independence, increases concentration in the classroom, develops road safety skills, leads to cleaner air, less congested streets and, most of all, kids love it.
Just a few generations ago, cycling, walking and taking the bus were all very much the norm for people travelling to school in Oxford; and we can get there again, thanks to a whole raft of support available both within the city and wider county. For instance, free cycle training, walking to school initiatives, free and subsidised school travel for eligible children, school streets, capped bus fares, better bike lanes, crossing patrols and 20mph speed restrictions have all made it safer and easier to get your children to school without having to drive.
The Cherwell School on Marston Ferry Road is now one of the top cycling schools in the country, with 58.4% of its students cycling, 15.7% travelling by bus, 14.8% walking, and just 11.1% travelling by car. Thanks to a small, friendly group called the Cherwell Travel Action Group, made up of parents, a teacher and a councillor who meet up once a term, they’ve organised cycle training, liaised with bus companies about better services and routes, got the city council to pre-grit the road when snow is forecast and even supplied discounted cycle lights and reflectors to students.
The alternative to active travel isn’t very pretty. Scientific studies have shown that roadside air pollution in Oxford stunts lung growth in children by 14.1%, and air pollution levels can be even higher inside vehicles than outside, putting your family at risk of problems like asthma, heart disease and various respiratory illnesses.
Currently there are nine permanent school streets in Oxfordshire, all located around primary schools, where the air quality is monitored and car access is limited. In these schools, we have seen a rise in the number of children cycling, walking, scooting and bussing to school, all of which increase their daily amount of exercise, social time and access to the great outdoors. It also builds great habits, fitness and resilience that will, hopefully, stay with those young people for the rest of their lives.
Tips for getting started
Don’t feel you have to do it every day - If you or your child isn’t sure, then you can always try leaving the car at home on a day when you’re not having to take much in (like PE kits, big folders, musical instruments or swimming stuff) and the weather is nice. The more you do it, the easier it might become.
Find the best route - Check out our Planning Your Journey page for tips on route finding by foot, cycle or bus. You can also use the Oxford Online Walking Map to find journeys that include parks, benches, toilets and amenities along the way, or the Oxfordshire Online Cycling Map to find quiet cycle routes.
Buddy up - If your neighbours go to the same school, then you might be able to organise drop off and pick up swaps, giving you more time on the days when you’re not going in. Also, young people are likely to be far more enthusiastic about walking, scooting or cycling to school with their friends and peers. See if anyone in your neighbourhood or any of your children’s friends would like to cycle or walk in with you! And you can check whether your school uses the HomeRun app, which helps parents connect to share school journeys - or whether they would be interested in doing so!
Club together - Setting up a school travel action group doesn’t have to be time consuming; it could just be a fairly informal group of parents, teachers and local campaigners willing to meet once a term. And with that kind of collective behind you, you’re likely to have much more oomph when contacting bus companies, bike shops and council departments to see what they can offer. Check out whether your school has a travel action group, and if not, ask around to see if other parents would be interested in forming one.
Get the gear - A little bit of waterproofing can go a long way, and it needn’t be expensive. Check out second hand sites like Vinted, eBay and DePop for great wet weather clothes, gloves and accessories, so you’re winter ready when the seasons start to change.
Take advantage of what’s on offer - See what resources your school offers to help, or make use of Oxfordshire County Council’s offerings, such as free cycle training or free and subsidised school travel for eligible children. You can also find out how County Council can help your school with travel planning and other initiatives such as school streets.
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If you have experience in using active travel, buses or trains in and around Oxford to get your kids to school, and can offer tips, ideas or feedback of help to others, let us know.
Updated September 2024
