Archived decisions

APPENDIX 4

Walking and Cycling Pilot - Achievements and Progress

Year 1 (May 07 - March 08)

Primary objective - to increase the percentage of pupils who walk and cycle in the target area through the introduction of a package of measures including incentives schemes and the provision of information.

Pilot area: Farnborough

Launch date: May 2007, coinciding with National Walk to School Week

Schools involved:

· Farnborough Grange Nursery and Infant School,

· North Farnborough Infant School,

· Parsonage Farm Nursery and Infant School,

· South Farnborough Infant School (started in Feb 08),

· South Farnborough Junior School,

· St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School,

· St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

· St Marks (CE) Aided Primary School

· The Wavell School

· Fernhill School and Language College

Scheme features

Each school was offered a personalised package of measures, which included the following;

· Trialling the national Walk once a Week (WoW) incentive scheme coinciding with a variety of rewards e.g. pedometers, t-shirts, certificates, stickers, umbrellas

· Promoting road safety publicity and training

· Providing safety accessories/clothing e.g. fluorescent key rings, tabards, etc

· Providing relevant curriculum/educational materials e.g. Theatre in Education

· Promoting sustainable travel messages through assemblies

· Working with external cycle companies to engage pupils and families in the benefits of cycling e.g. roadshows, try-cycling event over four weeks and role-playing assemblies.

Progress to-date and Achievements

· All primary schools participating in the incentive scheme and managing them independently

· Local residents, teachers and pupils reported reduced congestion outside of schools

· Positive feedback from all schools who hosted a bike roadshow or assembly.

· 63% of those taking part in the Cycle Experience `Try Cycling' event over four weeks, were `Very Likely' or `Likely' to continue to cycling to school.

· 600 journeys and over 750 miles were taken by children cycling over the 21 days of the `Get Cycling to School' initiative, coordinated by Company of Cyclists (CoC).

· Engaged with 350 families at a two-day Get Cycling Try-Out roadshow for Families, with CoC.

· Based on manual traffic counts undertaken outside of the schools, the number of vehicles decreased by 7% (from 3479 vehicles to 3240) between May 2007 and July 2007.

Unexpected Achievements

· South Farnborough Infant School had declined to take part in the pilot due to having current high levels of walking/cycling and the onerous monitoring. However, with some persuasion, the school decided to continue their involvement and explore the options available.

As the pilot is still within its first year, after data is still being collected