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Cycling

Cycling to school and work

Safer Routes to School

The National Travel Survey estimates that nearly 20% of all traffic during the morning peak (7:30am - 9:30am) is made up of parents and carers driving their children to school. Some parents are reluctant to allow their children to walk to school independently because of heavily trafficked roads and fear of strangers.

Creating safe, off road routes to school provides an alternative for parents to walk or cycle with their children to school. Many schools are now developing School Travel Plans, which enable the schools to receive grants between £5,000 and £10,000. These grants must be used to provide infrastructures that will encourage pupils to come to school on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.

The Council works with the Health Authority to promote these projects, which can fulfil the requirements for the Healthy School Award. Walking or cycling to school gives children much needed exercise, allows them time to wake up, and improves their academic performance.

See the Safer Routes to School and School Travel Plan pages for more information.

Cycling and the workplace

The West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network can give advice to employers on how to make the workplace more attractive to people who wish to cycle to work as part of an overall workplace travel plan. You may want to provide free cycle maps, lockers or shower facilities. Some employers offer interest-free cycle loans and mileage incentives.

Contact

• Name
• Nicola Whatmuff
• Address
• West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network
  Metro
  40-50 Wellington Street
  LEEDS LS1 2DE
• E-mail
• nicola.whatmuff@wypte.gov.uk

A new initiative announced by the government allows employees to buy bikes through their company and save up to 50%. Further guidance is available from the Department for Transport's Cycle to Work Scheme| or alternatively visit Booost| .

See also less polluting ways of travelling .

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