To school
We partner with the Road Safety Education team to promote walking or biking to schools. The school run often adds to traffic. Walking or biking at least once a week boosts independence and forms healthy habits. Families can adopt these suggestions. They can work alone or with their school to encourage active travel.
Parking near school gates leads to hazards. Space is limited, and idling cars cause pollution. Fewer vehicles create a safer, more pleasant environment. This, in turn, ensures a positive start to the day for everyone.
Walk or wheel to school
An active journey may take a little longer, but it can become part of the routine. Exercise before the school day prepares children better for a day of learning. It helps them learn how to get around their local area safely. Preparing for when they can make independent journeys. Use your journeys to chat about the day or observe nature on your route. Meet with friends and travel together to add more fun to the journey. Many children walk, scoot or cycle to get to school.
Park and stride
Park your car further away from school and walk the rest. This adds a 5 to 10-minute walk or scooter ride to your day. It's a great start, especially if you live far. Also, it keeps cars away from the school, eases parking stress, and adds in some daily exercise.
Walking bus
A walking bus is a group of children who walk together with some adults. By volunteering to walk with the bus some days you can send your children on the bus without you on other days. These happen informally with friends or more formally through the school. Road Safety Education have resources to help set up a walking bus. Contact them on road.safety@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Cycling bus
For those wanting to cycle, travelling as a group can make the journey easier. Sustrans have some fantastic information on their FRideDays Bike Bus. Encouraging parents to organise a Friday group ride. This supports younger and less experienced riders as well as making the journey fun for all. It is a good idea to start small and then watch as your group grows each week.
To develop more confidence cycling on the road consider some lessons. Outspoken Training offer cycling training across the County. They can also provide family lessons to help with the way you cycle as a group.
School streets
Across the County several schools have already implemented a school street. Closing the road outside the school to vehicles creates a space for pupils to arrive and leave. These changes for a short period twice a day reduce pollution. They encourage arriving at school without a car. There is information on School Streets here. The Council will create a traffic order to close the road. The Council provides supplies to support volunteer marshals.
Modeshift STARS
Modeshift STARS is a popular program for school travel planning. It promotes sustainable travel in Cambridgeshire. Over 90 schools and settings have joined, leading to a 3% drop in car trips. Schools can update or create travel plans that encourage walking or biking. The Road Safety Education team in Cambridgeshire offers free support and resources. They urge all schools to sign up to this free scheme. Also, every year, they hold the National School Travel Awards.
To work
Making active travel part of your daily routine offers many benefits. It is good for your physical and mental health. Incorporating your daily exercise into your commute saves time. It is a more sociable way to travel as you interact with those around you.
Consider if there are parts of your route that are better than others to use. When cycling or walking you may take a very different route to driving. It may be more direct or through green space. Talk to others to get suggestions for which way to go or visit our Planning your journey page for useful tools.
Thinking about your cycling equipment. How you carry your supplies and how to dress for the weather. These can help the comfort of your journey.
Some workplaces run buddy schemes. Pairing experienced cyclists with someone wanting to make the change. They offer support and help with route ideas.
Some big employers have Bicycle User Groups. These groups offer advice and support for cycling to work.
- Smart Journeys partners with businesses. They create travel plans and promote active travel.
- Cyclescheme is available through lots of employers. Use the scheme to buy a cycle, saving at least 25% and the payments come from your salary in monthly instalments.
- Love to ride offers regular workplace competitions to encourage cycling to work. See if your workplace can sign up.
For work
If your workplace requires people to travel for work, look into cycling as an option. For local journeys cycling can be a viable alternative. There are many cycling couriers. Businesses use cargo bikes and even the NHS use e-Bikes for home visits. Finding the correct cycle for the job requires research. Speak to other companies or cycle shops for advice. Consider use of pool cycles and including cycling on your work transport policy. This will all help decarbonise your journeys for work. Walking and public transport options should also be part of workplace travel. There may be grants you can apply for to start off your work cycle fleet.
There is a Sustrans guide to Writing a successful Cycling for Work Policy.
Other journeys
Walking to the shops for a pint of milk or using your cargo bike for a weekly supermarket shop. If your journey is short, then leave the car behind and try getting exercise whilst you travel. Shopping locally and actively helps you connect with your community. Taking time to stop and chat. Discovering a new short cut or park and enjoying the nature around you are all good reasons to get moving. Adding outdoor activity to your weekly routine is an excellent way to boost your mood.
To help with your shopping you will need to consider how you carry your purchases. This may be a sturdy rucksack or shopping bag. Panniers for your cycle can carry a lot, or a foldable shopping trolley if you are walking. Cycle trailers are helpful for larger loads. If you are considering going car free a cargo bike might be worth the investment.
Active travel is a great alternative for all your shorter journeys. Try leaving the car at home for all journeys under 2 miles to start with and you will be surprised how simple it can be.
