• Scooting to school - New
• Safe Routes to Schools 
• Staying safe on the school journey
• Cycling to school 
• Walking to school
• The health benefits of walking and cycling to school
• Developing a School Travel Plan 
• NEW! Bicycle recycling projects
• NEW! Bicycle Loan Schemes
• Resource list
• Facts and figures to support school travel initiatives
• Cycle parking for schools
• Pupil participation
• NEW! Active travel - a guide to getting more secondary pupils walking and cycling
• Scotland Facts and Figures to Support School Travel Initiatives 
• Scotland Resource List for School Travel Initiatives 
• School travel and the obesity challenge

Welsh Infosheets 

• Ffeithiau a ffigurau i gefnogi mentrau teithio ysgol Sustrans
• Facts and figures to support school travel in Wales in English or bilingual
• Rhestr adnoddau cymru ar gyfer mentrau teithio ysgol 
• Welsh resource list for school travel initiatives in English or bilingual       
• Beicio i'r Ysgol
• Datblygu Cynllun Teithio Ysgol
• Cyfranogiad disgyblion

Bike to School Week will take place from 19-23 March 2012. This is also the final week of our giant UK-wide inter-school cycling competition, The Big Pedal.

A week of cycling fun!

Bike to School Week is a fantastic opportunity to promote and celebrate the many benefits of cycling in your school. Join in the fun by planning exciting bike-related events throughout the week to get pupils and staff geared up for cycling to school.

Remember, you can hold Bike to School Week at any time of the year too! This way you can choose a time that suits your school and make use of our tools and resources which are available all year round. Plus, why stop pedalling when the week is over?!

Getting started

Start by reading our Pedal Pack which is crammed full of great ideas for running bike-related events.

Inspiring ideas include:

• bike breakfasts
• cycle carnivals and 'bling your bike' days
• poster competitions
• organise a bike stunt team or smoothie bike demonstration at your school

Handy resources

We have lots of resources online to help with Bike to School Week. Here are a few to get you started:

Case studies - read how schools around the UK have organised bike-related events to promote cycling to pupils and families. And use our case study template to tell us what worked in your school during Bike to School Week 2012.

Information sheets – loads of information on the benefits of cycling to school, and ideas for helping children stay safe (available in Welsh too).

Guide to pupil participation - practical examples of how schools have engaged pupils and ideas for integrating active school travel into the curriculum.

School Travel FAQs - answers to all those niggling questions about cycling to school.

Better by Bike - Visit Bristol City Council's website for information sheets with lots of ideas for running bike-themed weeks at school.

We look forward to hearing how you get on! Please email us with your photos and stories.

Success stories: 2010/2011

Habitat cycle shelter providing an educational resource (Dorset)

Sustainable cycle parking designed by pupils (Wiltshire)

Bike recycling scheme led by pupils (Devon)

Bike loan scheme (Glasgow City Council)

Go Barrhead! cycling in the curriculum (East Renfrewshire)

The Outward Bound making an active transition (Glasgow)

Borrow a Brolly to get you home dry (Midlothian)

Travel Group organised and run by pupils (Moray)

Walk2London  pedometer challenge (Clackmannanshire)

Haddington bike club for especially young riders (East Lothian)

Street Design for active travel and safe routes to school (Fife)

Sunday Cycle Skool to learn how to ride in a day (East Dunbartonshire)

Banner competition to remind drivers about children (W.Sussex)

Logo competition for children's hi-vis vests (York)

Design competition for road safety school banners (Pontypool)

School bike track with safer routes in and bike storage too (Stoke)

Pupil-designed route map for an island's urban primary (Orkney)

Themed walking days to enthuse everyone about walking (Bath)

Award winning school travel planning for SEN schools (Rochdale)

If you can't find what you're looking for, we might have something in the archive so just get in touch. To share your school's own success story, complete our template and email us. You might also find our School Travel Plan examples useful.

The latest edition (PDF) contains inspiring stories about what other schools and councils have done, top tips, Q&As, resource reviews, competitions and the latest policy and research news in the fields of health, transport and the environment.  Links to recent issues are on the right or if you'd like to subscribe to receive a hard copy, call 0117 915 0100, email us or sign up online.

Tracks

Read the latest Tracks (issue 8) here, our action-packed newsletter written by young people for young people. It includes articles by pupils on what they are doing about sustainable school transport issues, with features, interviews, websites, key facts, resources, competitions and jargon-busters to help pupils engage with travel issues and let the decision-makers know what they think.  If you'd like to receive a hard copy, call 0117 915 0100, email us or sign up online.

Scottish and Northern Ireland newsletters

Download the latest Safe Routes to Schools Scotland newsletter (PDF). We produce two newsletters a year for both countries and if you subscribe to Routes in either Scotland or Northern Ireland, you will automatically get these too.

Sign up online

Don't want to receive hard copies? Just check the site regularly for the latest editions or sign-up for our monthly e-bulletins which will let you know when they are posted. Alternatively, contact us via 0117 915 0100 or schools@sustrans.org.uk.

Why not sign up to receive our monthly e-news, containing information about all the latest school travel events, funding opportunities and much more?

Our 2011/12 Free Range Kids campaign provides a voice, games and ideas for young people, resources for schools and parents, and a platform to demand more 20 mph zones as standard in residential roads, which will do more than anything else to reduce road accidents, get kids outside, and allow them to travel and play safely round their neighbourhoods.

Thousands of people have already downloaded our activity sheets, 97 MPs signed the Early Day Motion and nearly 25,000 free packs have been ordered! We have blogs, videos, rides and quizzes, so why not go free-range with us on our Free Range Kids website?

Our new Stride Guide

A concise and easy-to-read action sheet, our Stride Guide is everything you need to know to run a fantastic walk to school event - timeline, checklist and ideas. And don't forget our popular Pedal Pack for cycle events.

Health and Physical Activity Headlines, August and September

Cycling adds 5 years to your life (if you pedal hard enough), exercise is a super-drug for cancer survivors, young "multi-screen" (TV, phone, PC) users at risk from lack of activity, just 47% of children walk to school, walking an hour a day boosts your heart's health, and overweight children may be at risk of strokes.

Events coming up

Check our Events page for more info on International Walk to School Month (October), Road Safety Week (November) and the Sustainable Schools conferences (October/November).

My Dream Street competition

Fancy winning some eco-designed outdoor furniture for your school or a family holiday? Then show us what your dream street would be like.

The competition is open to schools and individuals in two age groups: Juniors (7-11 years and at primary school) and seniors (11-14 years and at secondary school). Find out how your pupils can get involved. Closes 31 October 2011.

Our new Scooting to School Infosheet

Available from our Resources section, download under Infosheets.

Health headlines in May and June

Children risking heart disease by not exercising - body-fat and heart rates up. Children turning their back on physical activity - can't run, can't swim, can't cycle (well, some of them). Stranger danger - puts London's kids off walking, but more think it's just too far. Schoolgirls' waistlines - 3 inches bigger than in '78. The cost of childhood obesity - £110m for London if it becomes adult obesity (and how Bike It can help).

Road Safety decade, 2011-20

We almost missed that one too. We shouldn't have, road accidents kill 1.3m people a year, comparable to major diseases. They are the leading cause of death in young people. They affect the poor and deprived in all countries disproportionately hard. Find out what's happening at the Make Roads Safe website, with resources at the Decade of Action site.

Templates

If it's your job to think about making your school's travel habits a bit greener, these templates could save you hours. Just download them and away you go!

• Sample school cycling policy (pdf) to help clarify your position on cycling
• Sample cycle permit (Word) so that pupils know the school's cycling rules
• Quick School Travel Questionnaire (Word) 'hands'up' survey form
• Pupil School Travel Questionnaire (Word) how your pupils get to school 
• Parents School Travel Questionnaire (Word) find out what parents think

Guides 

We provide a range of handy guides to help you with all your school travel needs.

• The School Journey (pdf) action guide to healthy, sustainable travel
• Choose Another Way a teacher's guide to school travel planning (pdf)
• Guide to Pupil Participation (pdf)
• Pedal Pack (pdf) a guide for running bike-related events or weeks 
• Stride Guide (pdf) for running walking-related events or weeks
• Benefits of Active School Travel (pdf)
• SEN Schools and School Travel Plans (pdf)
• Aims, Objectives and SMART Targets (pdf) help writing a Travel Plan
• Pedometer Guidance (pdf) developed by organisations including Sustrans
• Finding Funding (pdf) list of funders; how to apply or raise your own funds

Manufacturers and suppliers

• Cycle Parking Manufacturers (pdf) divided into regions
• Sustainable cycle parking (pdf) guide to "greening" your storage
• Private suppliers (pdf) school travel-related goods and services

School Travel projects and useful booklets

• Beauty and the Bike a Bike It project to encourage girls to cycle (pdf)
• Primary to Secondary Transition Project Executive Summary 2008 (pdf)
• Primary to Secondary Transition Guide 2010 (pdf)
• Pupil Guide (pdf) Healthier Routes DVD
• Teacher Guide (pdf) Healthier Routes DVD
• Northern Ireland Rural Safe Routes to Schools Project 2009 Review (pdf)

Useful documents from other organisations 

• Parent Transition Guide (pdf) a valuable resource from Kent County Council
• SEN Factsheets (pdf) from Transport Planning (International) Ltd

School Travel projects might include cyclist and pedestrian road safety training, walking buses, incentives and promotional activities, curriculum work, highway improvements and the provision of facilities such as cycle parking and waiting shelters.  

Evidence shows that for school travel initiatives to be effective, they must take a whole-school approach. They involve the wider community, engage young people and encourage their participation, are integrated into the curriculum and become part of the school's ethos.

Getting Started

A good School Travel Plan (STP) is a great place to start - a child-centred one, that considers the bigger picture and builds on small steps to gradually change travel behaviour. If you do this, and get the whole school community involved in creating the STP, you're definitely going in the right direction. Perhaps your school might get a Sustrans Bike It officer to increase cycling levels, or you could apply for cycle storage funding?

Why not download our handy 'how to create an STP' guide or browse our STP examples for inspiration?

Alternatively, you may write to us at: Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD.

These terms and conditions relate to the Sustrans 'My Sustrans Dream Street' competition. By participating in this competition, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions which are final in all matters relating to the competition and which take effect immediately on submitting an entry.

Our details

"We", "us" and "our" and "Sustrans" mean Sustrans Limited, the promoter of this competition.  Our principal place of business is at 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD. Sustrans is a registered charity, charity no. 326550 (England & Wales) SCO39263 (Scotland) (Company No. 1797726). 

1. Changes to these terms

We reserve the right to make changes to the competition and to these terms; however we will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum. We recommend that you check these terms from time to time to see if they have changed. We will always state at the bottom of these terms the date on which they were last updated.

2. Mechanics for entry

The competition will run from 24 May 2011 to midnight on 31 October 2011 ("the closing date").

2.1. All entries must be submitted to arrive by the closing date to: My Sustrans Dream Street, Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD.

Entrants may only submit one individual and/or one school entry. Each individual entry must include all the information requested on the individual entry form, including the signature of the parent or carer. Schools sending multiple entries must include all the information on the school or class entry form for each pupil entry, along with the completed covering letter (see reverse of your letter or download from www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids).

2.2. The competition is only open to UK residents, excluding employees and the immediate families of Sustrans, its agents, its competition sponsors or anyone else professionally connected with the promotion.

2.3. Group entries may be made by schools.  Please provide contact details for the school on each entry. Prizes cannot be expanded according to the number of entrants.

2.4. Judging will take place between October and November 2011.

2.5. All entries will be assessed by a panel from Sustrans with the knowledge and experience to apply the judging criteria. A shortlist of six in each age category will be made. Each entrant on the shortlist will be contacted. An overall winner in each category will then be decided by the competition judges.

2.6. Our decision is final with respect to any aspect of the competition, including the determination of the shortlist and the winners and no correspondence will be entered into with other entrants.

2.7. The competition is open to schools and individuals in two age groups: Juniors (referring to children aged 7 to 11 and attending primary or junior school) and seniors (referring to children aged 11 to 14 and attending secondary school). We may require entrants to provide proof of age.

2.8. Entries for both age categories may be submitted using the official entry form leaflet, the template downloaded from the website or any other paper up to A3 in size, providing that a completed entry form is included.

2.9. We reserve the right to cancel this competition at any stage. Should this happen, a notice will be displayed on the website. 

3. Prizes

3.1. All prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. Arrangements for the fulfilment of each prize will be made through Sustrans.

3.2. The winners of each age category will be notified within 35 days of the closing date.  Winners will then have 30 days to claim their prize. If a winner does not claim their prize by the time the 30 days are up, another winner will be chosen for that age category.

3.3. If a prize-winner decides not to accept any prize, they will notify the promoters of any such decision in writing and will, with effect from the date of such notice, forfeit any and all claim to the prize awarded but declined. No alternative prize will be awarded. We reserve the right to deal with the prize declined in such manner as we think fit.

3.4. Shortlisted entrants and prize winners by entering this competition must agree to participate in any subsequent publicity from the competition.

3.5. In the unlikely event of any of the prizes becoming unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize for one of equal or greater value.

3.6. We will not accept any responsibility for any failure or delay in any postal or courier system or the winners' failure to accept delivery of his/her prize.

3.7. The winners of the Kew 3 outdoor classroom must provide clear access for delivery of the prize. Pendlewood will only deliver to UK Mainland only. Northern Ireland or offshore winners must arrange their own delivery at their own cost.

3.8. We will not be responsible for misuse of any prize, or claims, liability, loss or damage arising out of or in connection with this scheme.

3.9. The winners' details will be published on the Free Range Kids website.

Prize details

There will be a schools winner and an individual winner for both age groups.

Schools winners

Eco-designed furniture for your school from Pendlewood worth over £14,000.

Winners of the Junior category (7-11 years and at primary school) will receive a Hissing Sid Bench,  a creative and unique sculptural seat that encourages imaginative play and gives children a friendly place to sit and relax.

Winners of the Seniors category (11-14 years and at secondary school) will receive a Kew 3 outdoor classroom. It is specifically designed to offer the ultimate in fun and learning outside the classroom, whilst being a shaded area that allows pupils to play safely protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

Winners must provide clear access for delivery of the prize. Pendlewood will only deliver to UK Mainland only. Northern Ireland or offshore winners must arrange their own delivery at their own cost.

Individual winners

A five-day family break in a Camping Pod courtesy of pitchup.com

Winners of the Junior category (7-11 years and at primary school) will win a 5 night family holiday at  Westholme Estate, Leyburn, North Yorkshire - subject to availability. The pod holds a maximum of 2 adults and 3 children and must be booked Monday - Friday.

Winners of the Seniors category (11-14 years and at secondary school) will win a 4 night family holiday at  Abbey Farm, Llangollen, North Wales - subject to availability. The pod holds a maximum of 2 adults and 3 children.

4. Licence for material submitted by you

By entering the competition, you hereby give Sustrans permission:

a. for your entry to be published on the Sustrans website and other Sustrans Materials and grant Sustrans a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to republish your Competition entry in electronic format and hard copy for purposes connected with the Competition;

b. the right to use your name, age and town or city of residence for the sole purpose of identifying You as the author of your entry.

5. Liabilities

5.1.  We can accept no responsibility for entries lost, delayed, misdirected, damaged or undelivered. Incomplete and/or illegible entries will be disqualified. We shall not be responsible for technical errors in telecommunications networks, Internet access or otherwise preventing entry to any competition. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.

5.2.  We will not be liable to you for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the Competition in respect of losses: 

• that are related to loss of opportunity, loss of goodwill, loss of business or injury to reputation
• that are suffered by third parties
• that are caused by loss of data, or computer virus
• in respect of infringement of rights arising as a result of a third party linking to our online services and causing our content to be viewed within the pages of any other website
• that are due to your fault, for example if you have provided incorrect information to us or you fail to comply with our instructions in relation to the Competition and/or Prize
• that are not caused by our breach
• if you have a claim against another provider of services in connection with the Competition and/or Prizes you will pursue that claim independently and without recourse to us
• we do not in any way seek to limit or exclude our liability to you for death or personal injury caused by our proven negligence.

6. Data Protection

Any personal information, including without limitation, your name, address (including postcode), telephone number and/or email address will be used (i) in connection with the Competition, (ii) as set out in these terms and conditions. Your Personal Data will not be disclosed to any third party, except to publicise the prize-winners and for the purpose of fulfilling the prize where applicable.

7. Jurisdiction

By entering the competition, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any disputes arising therefrom.

These terms and conditions were updated on 6 June 2011.

Schools winners

Eco-designed furniture for your school from Pendlewood worth over £14,000.  

Winners of the Junior category (7-11 years and at primary school) will receive a Hissing Sid Bench, a creative and unique sculptural seat that encourages imaginative play and gives children a friendly place to sit and relax.

Winners of the Seniors category (11-14 years and at secondary school) will receive a Kew 3 outdoor classroom. It is specifically designed to offer the ultimate in fun and learning outside the classroom, whilst being a shaded area that allows pupils to play safely protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Delivery restrictions apply, please see terms and conditions.

Individual winners

A family break in a Camping Pod courtesy of Pitchup.com in conjunction with Westholme Estate and Abbey Farm Caravan Park.

Winners of the Junior category (7-11 years and at primary school) will win a five night family holiday at Westholme Estate, Leyburn, North Yorkshire - subject to availability. The pod holds a maximum of two adults and three children.

Winners of the Seniors category (11-14 years and at secondary school) will win a four night family holiday at  Abbey Farm, Llangollen, North Wales - subject to availability. The pod holds a maximum of two adults and three children and must be booked Monday to Friday.

The Cycling England funded grant programme for cycle parking is now closed.

If cycle parking is required for your school please contact your local authority. Usually the School Travel Advisor or Cycling Officer will be able to inform you of what funding may be available for your school, for example from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund which is available to local authorities for 2011-2012.

Sustrans will continue to work in partnership with most local authorities but we cannot offer funding directly to schools.

Getting started

www.bikeability.org.uk - National Standard Cycle Training
www.walktoschool.org.uk - National Walk to School Week and WOW campaign
www.brake.org.uk - Brake are the national Road Safety charity
www.bikeforall.net - The one-stop-shop for all things cycling!

School Programmes

www.healthyschools.gov.uk - Healthy Schools initiative
www.eco-schools.org.uk - Eco-Schools initiative
www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools - Sustainable Schools initiative

The Welsh Assembly Government has a budget for Safe Routes in Communities projects and each year the local councils bid for funding from this for school travel initiatives in their areas. This can include creating safe walking and cycling routes to schools as well as school cycle parking.

We have Welsh case studies and School Travel Plans to look at in our Resources section. Some of our information sheets are also available in Welsh - guides to writing travel plans, pupil participation and cycling all have Welsh translations and can be found in the Infosheet section.

General Information

Look through our News, Events and Resources sections for more help with your school travel initiative.

Think! Education from the Department for Transport: road safety information and resources including lesson plans

Walk to School have a wide range of learning resources for Key Stages one and two

Teachernet provides information on school travel, travel plans and travel plan grants

Streetwise UK road safety resources for primary schools

Bikeability cycling-related lesson plans and resources

Geographical Association detailed lesson plans about school travel from a Sustrans Bike It Officer

Ordnance Survey provide some excellent mapping resources for primary and secondary schools

Environmental Transport Association lesson plans and resources

Schoolsonthemove support materials and ideas for using pedometers to encourage active travel

Schoolway European site on 'sustainable mobility' with games and resources for teachers and young people

Transport for London Resources and teaching packs for Key Stages two and three

Viewfinder resources and online travel plan survey

Suschool.org resources and ideas to help schools become more sustainable

ltscotland climate change helping young people explore climate change

Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy provides lesson plans and materials for classroom

Jointhepod info packs, lesson and activity plans on environmental topics including transport

Upgrade7 lesson plans and resources from TfL to help pupils make the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 a safe and sustainable one

Gotravelwise primary and secondary resources from Travelwise Merseyside to help pupils understand sustainable travel choices

Sustrans resources

Sustrans have produced curriculum resources free to download for Northern Ireland:

• NI Making the Links Guide (pdf, 2MB) 
• NI Making the Links Resources (zip file, 5MB)

Please note, Making the Links Resources is a large 'zipped' (compressed) file, comprising various documents. You will need to 'unzip' the folder to see them all. The Making the Links Guide will tell you how to make best use of the resources.

To find out about school travel information specific to your area, contact your local authority.

Who do I speak to at my local authority about school travel?

Funding for school travel projects

Due to the change of government, it is uncertain what funding will be available to schools and when. As soon as we receive further information, we will update this section of the website.

Don't forget to sign up to our e-bulletin to receive all the latest school travel news including events, funding opportunities, policy information and much more besides! Explore our News, Events and Resources sections for more help with your school travel projects.

Don't forget to read our popular Developing an STP infosheet (also in Welsh) and then start brainstorming your own ideas.  Contact your local council as they should be able to show you some successful local examples.

Successful STP ideas

• Broadmeadow SEN Primary, Wolverhampton, England
• New City Primary, inner-city London
• The Elms SEN School, Knowsley, England
• Torbain Primary, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
• St Marys Cushendall, Co. Antrim, NI
• Hezlett Primary, Coleraine, NI
• Muthill Primary, rural Perthshire, Scotland
• Central Infant and Junior, Port Talbot (joint STP), Wales

The deadline for receiving governmental STP capital grants has now passed. Stay up-to-date with all the latest news from the school travel world, including new funding opportunities by receiving our monthly e-bulletin.

Our Scottish team have also produced a Teacher's Guide to STPs in conjunction with Choose Another Way.

We're working with policy makers and the media to raise the profile of school travel, as we're committed to safe, sustainable and healthy journeys to school for every child in the UK.

The respective governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own initiatives, funding and policies. Visit your region for current goings on and policy overviews:

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

We will also post any documents of national importance below.