Ministers want 60% of children walking or cycling to school by 2035

[Drago]

I agree, but the time aspect is not favourable to those who work.

With respect, thats just another lame excuse. The public at large should not suffer because of someone else's poor planning when making life choices. People should own their decisions like the rest of us have to in every other facet of our lives.

In any case, thats a clear minority. The roads outside schools are equally clogged at 3pm in anticipation of school closing, a time when those with jobs tend to actually be at work.

 

[Andy in Germany]

the kids riding alone from what I see overwhelmingly are white lads(the same type you'd see kicking a ball about or pulling wheelies anywhere, ie street urchins).

I'm a tad confused about this statement; maybe I'm missing the subtleties from over in Germany.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm a tad confused about this statement; maybe I'm missing the subtleties from over in Germany.

Mee too lol and I've hardly left the UK in 40 years.
I thought "street urchin" meant someone different, reminiscent of Dickens tales.

 

[Hicky]

I'm a tad confused about this statement; maybe I'm missing the subtleties from over in Germany.

To clarify further, the school has a reasonable diversity in terms of it's intake, I'm reflecting it's sad to see a proportion don't see riding to school being a thing or thier parent's don't....as for urchins...the type of kids some(usually nimbys) would see as a nuisance.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Unless we walked him in early and paid for breakfast club, which is another issue

Excellent idea

 

[postman]

Walk to skool my word some parents would have to shower and get dressed,Wot abart their uman rights to wear jim jams on the skool run.

 

[presta]

One girl walked 90 minutes each way every day - her choice - she had a bus pass but preferred to walk

Choice? She's getting bullied on the bus.

you can't make life better for cyclists and pedestrians (ie: everyone not in a car) without taking some space or convenience away from motorists

Motorists on Twitter are always bragging about how they drive because cars are the most convenient choice, to which I ask why those with the most convenience always whinging for more at the expense of those who already have the least. No answer.

 

[Drago]

I prefer to argue with lazy self entitled prats in real life rather than on twitter.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Choice? She's getting bullied on the bus.

Normally that would be the case

but this girl was fine - she was a leading light in the local Army Cadets and no-one would have tried to bulyl her

but I did take her off to one side and check
she laughed at me

Nice kid actually
her brother was one of the worst kids in the school and one of the worst bully's - ended up walking round school with a tag and got sent to prison soon after he left school

she grew up with him around and learnt to deal with it (with her Mum's help)

but - it was a good point to make


Oh - just remembered - she wanted to join the Army and drive a tank
when I mentioned that in the staff room the general consensus was "country's safe them"

 

[T4tomo]

I used to cycle, a mile down a rural country road, to primary school from the age of 5 with my two sisters. I can't imagine anyone cycle to that that school now. If it was really wet or snowy, then we'd put on wellies and waterproofs and walk it.

Kids nowadays Phffft! or should that be Pshaw!

 

[Andy in Germany]

I used to cycle, a mile down a rural country road, to primary school from the age of 5 with my two sisters. I can't imagine anyone cycle to that that school now. If it was really wet or snowy, then we'd put on wellies and waterproofs and walk it.

Kids nowadays Phffft! or should that be Pshaw!

Still common in Germany: all kids have to take a test run by the police, and then they're covered by the school insurance. My daughter now frequently cycles to high school which is a 12km round trip.

There are 2 moderately busy roads to cross on the way, the rest is either traffic-calmed streets or segregated cycleways: it really isn't that hard to achieve.

 

[All uphill]

Still common in Germany: all kids have to take a test run by the police, and then they're covered by the school insurance. My daughter now frequently cycles to high school which is a 12km round trip.

There are 2 moderately busy roads to cross on the way, the rest is either traffic-calmed streets or segregated cycleways: it really isn't that hard to achieve.

Agreed.

Car ownership is deep in the culture here in England, as is a deep fear of what strangers will do to our kids. Not rational, but that's people.

Cycling is a hobby, competitive sport or, in some places, just a way to get around.

I'm delighted to see an initiative locally to get kids looking out for each other in the playground, park and on the way to school. It seems to be working.

 

[Drago]

We tried, as a parish council, to get the primary school and/or parents on our patch to arrange a walking bus. The catchment is barely a third of a mile, but at drop off and collection times the roads are heaving, the footways used as car parks and sometimes even as roads!

The objections ranged from spurious, through ridiculous, to downright fantastical, so after a few months of trying we gave up...yet the self same residents have the cheek tk moan about the traffic and parking to which they contribute!

 

[Alex321]

I still think the UK can be saved, we havent reached USA levels of you have to use a car to get anywhere because there is no public transport or provision for active travel, even though we green light new housing estates with no provision for active travel or bus routes/stops.

They aren't allowed to do that nowadays in Wales.
For any new developments, they have to follow the guidelines in this document to get planning permission.
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2024-07/planning-policy-wales-edition-12.pdf

And that includes things like (page 15)
Movement
Walking, cycling and public transport are prioritised to provide a choice of transport modes and avoid dependence on private vehicles. Well designed and safe active travel routes connect to the wider active travel and public transport network and public transport stations and stops are positively integrated.

page 27
Movement 3.12
Good design is about avoiding the creation of car‑based developments. It contributes to minimising the need to travel and reliance on the car, whilst maximising opportunities for people to make sustainable and healthy travel choices for their daily journeys. Achieving these objectives requires the selection of sites which can be made easily accessible by sustainable modes as well as incorporating appropriate, safe and sustainable links (including active travel networks) within and between developments using legal agreements where appropriate.

page 48
Development proposals must seek to maximise accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport, by prioritising the provision of appropriate on‑site infrastructure and, where necessary, mitigating transport impacts through the provision of off‑site measures, such as the development of active travel routes, bus priority infrastructure and financial support for public transport services. Importantly, sustainable transport infrastructure and services should be prioritised and put in place from the outset, before people have moved in and travel patterns have been established.

There are 49 references to Active travel in that document, and then you also have the Active Travel (Wales) Act with guidance here:
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-01/active-travel-act-guidance.pdf

The section on planning for new developments in that guidance says:
7.6 New developments
7.6.1 In conjunction with Planning Policy Wales, this guidance will support the masterplanning, layout and design of development sites, ensuring that all newly planned development is fully accessible by walking and cycling. This applies to private and public sector development, whether mixed use, housing, employment, or public services such as schools and hospitals. It relates to provision within the site and to connections between the site and nearby services, facilities and active travel networks.
7.6.2 Planning Policy Wales 11 clearly states that the sustainable transport hierarchy must be a key principle in the preparation of development plans, including site allocations, and when considering and determining planning applications. Careful consideration needs to be given in development plans to the allocation of new sites which are likely to generate Planning and design Page 68 Active Travel Act Guidance significant levels of movement, to ensure that access provisions which enable walking and cycling, as well as for public transport, are included from the outset and that any implications associated with airborne pollution can be addressed.
7.6.3 The design of development proposals shall, in accordance with the sustainable transport hierarchy, start with identifying the shortest, most attractive walking and cycling connections and then addressing the other transport needs.
7.6.4 A key factor within Planning Policy Wales is that “Sustainable transport infrastructure and services should be prioritised and put in place from the outset, before people have moved in and travel patterns have been established.” Local authorities must therefore work closely with developers to ensure they fully understand and implement this guidance.
7.6.5 PPW and the act means that authorities should review their design guidelines for developers to ensure that adequate provision is made for active travel by developers’ design teams (and/or refer developers to comply with the ATAG). This will require a consideration of the basic elements making up new highways – motor traffic lane widths, cycle lanes/tracks, footways, verges and so on – to ensure that highways on new developments provide appropriate facilities for walking and cycling as a matter of course.
7.6.6 The planning and design of new and improved infrastructure will be led by the Transport Assessment for the new development, which is used to forecast the all-mode travel demands, assess their impact on the surrounding network and design appropriate mitigation measures. It should be noted that smaller developments, on designated active travel routes, which fall below the normal thresholds to provide Transport Assessments should still be required to contribute to active travel improvements.
7.6.7 Developments that do not adequately make provision for walking and cycling should not be approved. This may include adequate off-site improvements for pedestrians and cyclists using existing highways that are affected by the development.
7.6.8 Planning Policy Wales 11 requires that sustainable transport measures be included before the development is complete “Importantly, sustainable transport infrastructure and services should be prioritised and put in place from the outset, before people have moved in and travel patterns have been established”.

 

[Drago]

Active travel gets a lot of tough talk, but little substance.

AT is a council priority here, but when I report a shared path blocked by bushes its gets put on a 6 month rectifying schedule. Report a road similarly blocked and theyre out within the hour.

Active Travel gets lip service at best.