Council beats school-run jams

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Apr 2007

Determined efforts to reduce the number of car trips made to borough schools are reaping success.

Richmond Council has been homing in on the school run as part of its drive to combat pollution and traffic congestion and announced this week that the number of journeys to and from school by car in the borough has dropped by one third over the last two years. Schools are being encouraged to adopt travel plans, which involve a package of measures to encourage people to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or go by public transport instead. "Walking Buses" have been adopted by some schools. These are manned by parent volunteers who walk children to school in a crocodile formation on a risk assessed route. 60 % of the borough's schools have now adopted travel plans - well above the Mayor of London's target. Grants are available from the Department for Transport and the DfES to allow schools to install appropriate facilities such as pedestrian waiting areas and footpaths within the school site and cycle storage for staff and children. The Council has been working in conjunction with transport consultants Mouchel Parkman.

Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, Cllr David Trigg, said:

"The Council is doing everything it can to promote sustainable and healthy modes of transport and school travel plans are a terrific success story. They have led to a significant reduction in car use on the school run, helping to reduce congestion, improve road safety and provide health benefits for those who now cycle or walk rather than go by car. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that every school in the borough adopts one."