The council’s vision is to encourage parents and young people to use alternatives to the car for ‘the school run’ by promoting school travel plans and involving young people in their development.
The aim of a school travel plan is to promote safe, sustainable and less car dependent patterns of travel. In doing so, it aims to reduce congestion and increase walking, cycling and public transport trips with the wider health, educational, environmental and social benefits associated with this.
Plans may include a range of measures e.g. safer routes to school, walking buses, cycling facilities and the 'yellow bus scheme'. The Government requires all schools to have a travel plan in operation by 2010.
A school travel plan can be tailored to meet the identified needs of the school community. The school travel plan forms a framework which can be developed and evolve over time to resolve travel issues and influence the choices parents and children make for their school journeys.
A recent evaluation of school travel plans by the Department for Transport identified a variety of benefits including increased road safety, healthier, more alert and engaged pupils, reduced pollution and congestion and increasingly independent travel for pupils with special educational needs.
What help is available?
The Government is supporting the development of school travel plans by funding School Travel Advisers, and providing a capital grant funding scheme for schools that develop an approved travel plan. The funding is available for on-site facilities that encourage sustainable travel. The grant funding is available to all state schools.
For details on how to apply for the funding click on the sample invitation letter link. This outlines the timetable for applications and how much money your school could receive.
Help and advice is available from Leeds City Council’s School Travel Advisers who can be contacted on 0113 247 5757 / 395 1266.
Additional guidance and information can be downloaded using the links on the right of the page.