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

At slightest 60% of children successful England should beryllium walking oregon cycling to schoolhouse wrong a decennary nether the government's caller progressive question plans.

Ministers accidental millions much five-to-16-year-olds volition beryllium capable to question by ft oregon motorcycle utilizing thousands of safer routes promised nether its "record" £4.5bn concern strategy.

At slightest fractional of each abbreviated trips successful towns and cities should besides beryllium walked oregon cycled by 2035 and a "national walking and cycling network" volition beryllium disposable connected way mapping apps wrong 5 years, nether the plans.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the strategy sought to marque progressive question "a applicable prime for millions much journeys".

The latest authorities data, from 2023, suggested that 47% of children aged 5 to 16 usually locomotion oregon rhythm to school.

Some 5,000 walking, wheeling and cycling routes and 10,000 "safer" crossings volition beryllium built by 2030 to conscionable the caller target, the Department for Transport (DfT) said, which volition beryllium delivered alongside section authorities and Active Travel England.

There volition beryllium £135m spent connected programmes grooming children to locomotion and rhythm safely to school, and to assistance schools make question plans - though it is already commonplace that they promote pupils to debar car journeys.

Ministers besides privation 55% of abbreviated trips to beryllium progressive by 2035 - including what is described arsenic a "stage" of a journey, specified arsenic walking oregon cycling to onward nationalist transport. The existent level is 48%, according to the DfT.

The summation would mean 5.3m much radical being physically progressive successful towns and cities, ministers say.

The strategy besides sets retired plans to make a nationalist progressive question web that is "usable astatine a nationalist scale", including accordant signage and availability online alongside the roadworthy network.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Too galore radical would similar to walk, instrumentality oregon rhythm much often but don't consciousness they person harmless and convenient options to bash so."

"This is astir creating healthier communities, helping households support much wealth successful their pockets and gathering a transport web that works amended for everyone."

Health Secretary James Murray said the program would "help much radical physique workout into their mundane lives, improving nationalist wellness and supporting our ambition to trim unit connected the NHS".