transport
The school run in the UK produces the same annual carbon emissions as four million flights to New York. Travel by staff and pupils accounts for around 17% of the school’s carbon footprint. In Denmark 50% of pupils cycle to school, compared with 10% of pupils in the UK, this despite that fact that the vast majority (90%) of secondary age pupils own bicycles. Significant improvements will be dependent upon local and national developments to improve cycling/walking routes to school. However, there is much that schools can do alongside such changes. Most schools now have a School Travel Plan and will have used available funding to encourage more staff and pupils to walk or cycle to school.
1. Provide incentives for pupils and staff to walk or cycle to school. Providing incentives for staff and pupils can have an immediate impact on reducing the number who travel by car to school. How about offering a ‘get into lunch first’ pass for all pupils who walk or cycle to school. Allowing pupils who cycle to and from school to leave a little earlier than others also helps to improve safety. Staff are entitled to significant savings (around 40-45%) when they buy a bike through the Department of Transport and Industry’s Cycle to Work loan scheme.
2. Set the example. You could ensure that all school trips involve the least impact on carbon emissions considering first, venues and activities that are closer to the school. In addition school trip organizers could be asked to consider the greenest route to the chosen destination. Where journeys have to involve air travel, groups could be encouraged to consider how they can reduce other aspects of their collective carbon footprint. Those who drive the school minibus could attend eco-driving courses which can help increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by up to 15%. You could also consider running the school minibus on waste biodiesel
3. Include safe cycle routes in the school prospectus. Local councils and the sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, will provide information on the range of cycle routes available.
4. Ensure that the facilities are right. If there are staff showers, secure and well-lit storage for bikes and helmets then pupils and staff are more likely to cycle to school.
5. How about installing green bays in school? These would be priority parking spaces with electric charging points http://www.pavementpower.co.uk Coupled with the installation of low-carbon energy sources, schools could provide such ‘green’ electricity free to staff. Although the take-up may be limited at first it could provide an incentive when staff are making choices about replacing their cars.
1. Bike–it - a Sustrans project and resource providing support, ideas and events to encourage cycling to school
2. Tips on greener travel and smarter/greener driving from the Energy Saving Trust
3. Posters and stickers from Bikeability – although aimed primarily at Primary schools, there are some ideas and resources that can be used in years 7 & 8.
4. Comprehensive guide to reducing the impact of the school run and promoting healthy and safe travel to school
5. Guidance on the all aspects of the Cycle to Work scheme
1. Sustrans – www.sustrans.org
2. ActonCO2 – www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk
3. The Department of Transport and Industry - www.dti.gov.uk
4. A website dedicated to finding the greenest method of transport between two routes - www.routerank.com/en/