School Active Travel Survey Findings - May 2025
· Active travel in Bailiwick of Guernsey schools is increasing and now makes up a higher percentage of journeys than those travelling by car!
· Active travel to and from primary schools has increased by 14% points since October 2021 from 37% to 51%
· Active travel to and from secondary schools has increased by 9% points since October 2021 from 29% to 38%
The active travel survey was introduced by the Health Improvement Commission in 2020 and since 2022 has been conducted twice a year in May and October. All schools ask children in each class, by a show of hands, how they travelled to and from school over two days. Active travel is defined as walking, cycling, scooting and blended travel, whereby someone might travel part of the journey by motorised vehicle, but walks the final section, sometimes referred to as Park and Stride.
‘It is great to see a steady upwards trend in active travel to and from Guernsey schools, with May 2024 to May 2025 having the highest levels of active travel since records began in 2020.
As the survey is a snapshot in time, there will always be a level of fluctuation due to factors such as weather or infrastructure changes, but when there are well thought out initiatives and sustainable strategies in place aimed at promoting active travel, long-term behaviour change is possible.
The Be Active team at the Health Improvement Commission are committed to enabling more people to be more active more often with walking or cycling to school on a regular basis being one of the easiest ways to do this. We strive to make the school run a healthier and more mindful experience for all by encouraging initiatives and advocating for improved environments that make active travel the easier and more attractive option.
Our challenge is to sustain the momentum seen on Better Journeys Week and in the summer months. La Houguette have followed in St Martins’ steps and introduced a School Street, and we are keen to support more schools with their travel plans, working alongside the Traffic and Highways team, helping them to achieve more active travel and less congestion around their school site.
Bikeability continues to run excellent, inclusive cycle training in schools, and we aim to focus more on improving adult cycling skills so that the whole family has the confidence to cycle to and from school. Walking buses and cycle trains are another example of a fun intervention that enables more children to travel actively. Finally, what is also positive to note is that levels of car usage are below levels of active travel in both primary and secondary schools.’