STRENGTHEN YOUR CAMPAIGNS WITH LOCAL DATA
​Our data dashboard provides localised insights on school travel for every primary school, ward and borough in London. Campaigning for a school street, or zebra crossing? Take a look at our examples below on how you can find your local data and use it to empower your work.
Make the case for safe school streets
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1.0 Celebrate active journeys to primary schools.
Children's journeys are overlooked in our street design and transport system. But in every neighbourhood there will be hundreds of young children walking and cycling to school. They are unheard voices! Use our 'Overview' Dashboard to get an estimate of how many pupils are using sustainable modes in your area. Celebrate these active journeys - broadcast them to your councillors and community. Give them a voice! Check out inspiration on our social media pages here and here and here, and our blog here.
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2.0 Make the case for school streets, zebra crossings and and safe routes to school
The numbers of young children ALREADY walking and cycling makes a powerful case for safe and healthy routes to school. All these young children have to battle road danger and pollution on their school journeys every day. Use our 'Overview Dashboard to estimate how many pupils are travelling sustainably in your area. Ask your council or school community - why don't they have safe school streets? zebra crossings? safe cycle routes? Check out our social media feeds here and here and blog for more inspiration.
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3.0 Highlight the problem of school run car trips
Despite the majority of families who walk and cycle, the school run generates a significant number of car trips which flood the road networks. Use our 'Overview' Dashboard to identify how many pupils are driven to school in your area. You can convert this into how many car trips this creates by taking the number of pupils driven and multiplying it by 1.2 for the morning drop off and then doubling that number for the afternoon drop off. E.g. in Lambeth there are an estimated 5,000 pupils driven to school which creates 12,000 car trips per day. More info on here on the logic behind this and more campaign inspiration here.
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4.0 Identify solutions for different school types.
Primary school driving rates increase the further the distance pupils are travelling. Schools with large catchment areas are therefore likely to have the highest driving rates. Use our 'School Type' and 'Overview' dashboard to find out what the school mix is in your ward or borough. Use this to inform your activity and strengthen your campaigns. For example, where there are a high number of independent primary pupils, you could research what sustainable options they provide for young pupils travelling 1-3 miles to school. Some independent schools invest in chaperoned school-bus services for young pupils. More inspiration on our social media here.
5.0 Highlight the potential for cargo bikes
In London, the average driving rate for primary pupils travelling under 1 mile to their school is 7%. That increases to 65% for pupils travelling 1-2 miles. It is these longer distances with young children where parents start to rely on the car. Electric cargo bikes can carry up to 1-4 young children in the bike, and are a fun, highly convenient and sustainable alternative. You can use the Overview and Ward panels to discover how far pupils are travelling to schools in your area and highlight the potential for cargo bikes. Then check out our cargo bike resources, to grow the movement in your area.