We are working with schools to support children and families to walk, cycle or consider blended travel when travelling to and from school.
Our project work has included:
- Liaising with schools to encourage and help set up walking buses, park and stride and cycle trains and engaging with school councils and right's respecting groups.
- Working with Traffic and Highway Services to undertake travel plans for all primary schools, leading to improvements to cycle parking, crossing points and pavements.
- Supporting St Martins Primary school active travel project to create Guernsey's first School Street. Listen to the schools journey, how they empowered the children, gathered evidence and showed resilience in the face of barriers here St Martins School. Now no children are dropped off by car at the school gate aside from breakfast club and the playground is no longer used as a pickup point by cars at the end of the day.
- Helping local primary schools take part in the living Streets WOW challenge. Children use a Travel Tracker to record how they get to school each day. If they walk, cycle or scoot once a week for a month they collect a badge.
Email alex.coston@healthimprovement.gg to find out more.
Findings of the Active Travel Survey 20th and 21st May 2025
· Active travel in the Bailiwick of Guernsey is increasing over time.
· Active travel to and from primary schools has increased by 14% since October 2021 (37% to 51%)
· Active travel to and from secondary schools has increased by 9% since October 2021 (29% to 38%)
Amy Woollaston, Active Travel Officer at the Health Improvement Commission, commented: ‘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.’
Summary of the Active Travel Survey
The active travel survey was first undertaken in 2020 and is 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.
Primary School Results
The average numbers of primary school pupils incorporating walking, cycling and scooting into their school journeys shows a positive trend over time.
Rates of to school and from school active travel follow a similar pattern, with gradual growth and periodic fluctuations.
The average percentages of primary school children walking, cycling, scooting or using blended travel is 48% to school and 54% from school.
May 2024 saw a significant spike in active travel following the success of Guernsey’s first ever School Street at St Martins Primary school and a number of other schools offering walking buses at the time. 2024 survey days were both dry. May 2025 results were lower than May 2024 and this is most likely due to significant rainfall during school commute hours on the second day of the 2-day audit. This resulted in the cancellation of several walking buses and other active travel initiatives on the second survey day.
Fluctuations such as this are to be expected and it is encouraging to note that one day of particularly bad weather does not disrupt the overall positive trend.
Secondary School Results
The linear trendline for the average numbers of pupils incorporating walking, cycling and scooting into their journeys shows a steady upward trend in active travel. The rate of change in secondary schools is lower than in primary schools. Response rates in the secondary school survey fluctuate over time as May is a busy time for schools including exams, so these results should be treated with caution.
The data suggests that morning ‘To school’ travel is improving at a slightly faster rate than ‘From school’, with 34% of students travelling actively to school in May 2025. This is positive news for morning ‘rush hour’ vehicle congestion. Encouragingly, in the most recent survey, 42% of students reported travelling actively from school, which is the highest since records began.
To address slower rates of change amongst secondary schools, a new working group has been established including a representative from each secondary school, Traffic and Highways and the Health Improvement Commission which aims to work collaboratively to identify and remove barriers to active travel, making it an easier and more attractive option for secondary pupils.
