Environment

Primary school children lead new inspections to boost safe walking and cycling

Friday, 11 July 2025 3:45PM UTC

An innovative scheme involving primary school pupils as junior active travel inspectors aims to improve safety and accessibility for walking and cycling routes, reducing congestion and promoting healthier lifestyles. Supported by significant government investment, this child-led initiative could transform school journeys across England.

Primary school children in England are being invited to become junior active travel inspectors, part of an innovative initiative designed to encourage more walking, cycling, wheeling, and scooting to and from school. The scheme, launched by the Department for Transport, empowers pupils to audit their school journeys using a specially developed child-friendly app, helping to assess and improve the safety and accessibility of local active travel routes. This initiative aims to tackle school-run congestion, reduce pollution, and promote healthier lifestyles among young people.

The launch of the programme was marked by a visit from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to Hollybush Primary School in Hertford. Alexander highlighted the multiple benefits of walking and cycling—not just for health but also in easing congestion, supporting local economies, and reducing pressure on the NHS. “We want to make sure that more children and families can take advantage,” she said, explaining how the scheme will place young people at the heart of active travel efforts to influence smarter decisions and infrastructure improvements in their communities.

Currently, around 40% of primary school children and 25% of secondary pupils are driven to school, with school drop-offs contributing to a significant proportion of morning traffic, particularly in urban areas such as London. The junior inspectors will work alongside teachers and parents, using an adapted version of Active Travel England’s inspection checklist to identify barriers to safer walking and cycling routes. Their findings will help shape future local government plans to boost active travel uptake.

This child-led scheme complements a broader government commitment to active travel infrastructure funding. Building upon a £300 million investment announced earlier this year, the government aims to create up to 300 miles of new cycleways and pavements across England. This funding is part of a package designed to facilitate 30 million extra walking or cycling journeys annually and is expected to deliver significant economic benefits, including an estimated saving of 43,000 NHS sick days each year.

In total, the government’s active travel funding commitment comprises multiple streams, including a £200 million allocation to improve rural connections and create 120 miles of new cycling tracks; £101 million to support local walking and cycling projects, including trials of side-road zebra crossings and enhanced access in National Parks; and £60 million focused specifically on transforming the school run by expanding cycle training programmes to reach a million more children. These coordinated investments reflect the government’s Plan for Change strategy, which seeks to embed active travel as a central pillar of sustainable transport and public health improvement.

Beyond infrastructural developments, these initiatives aim to incentivise behavioural shifts, making walking, wheeling, and cycling easier, safer, and more appealing options for families. By equipping young people with the tools to identify challenges and propose solutions, the junior active travel inspectors programme not only nurtures critical thinking and civic engagement but also ensures the voices of children inform the design of school routes.

As local authorities begin to integrate the data gathered by these young inspectors, the government anticipates a ripple effect: increased active travel participation, lower congestion and emissions near schools, improved physical and mental health outcomes for children, and stimulation of local economies. If successful, this pioneering approach could serve as a model for engaging communities directly in shaping the transport choices that impact their daily lives.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.miragenews.com/school-run-heroes-boost-for-cycle-lanes-walkways-1495146/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/almost-300-million-to-gear-up-new-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-schemes - The UK government has announced a £291 million funding package to enhance walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure across England. This investment aims to develop 300 miles of new footpaths and cycle tracks, encouraging 30 million additional journeys by bike or foot annually. The funding also includes £30 million for Bikeability cycle training for children and £8.5 million for initiatives in schools and communities. The initiative is expected to reduce 43,000 sick days per year, easing pressure on the NHS and supporting the government's Plan for Change.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/200-million-to-improve-walking-and-cycling-routes-and-boost-local-economies - The UK government has allocated £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes, aiming to generate up to 16 million additional walking and cycling trips annually. The funding will enhance rural connections, create 120 miles of cycling track, and support 130 schemes to assist over 35,000 children on their way to school. These improvements are expected to boost healthier travel options and stimulate local economies.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/101-million-investment-to-boost-cycling-and-walking-nationwide - The UK government has announced a £101 million investment to support walking and cycling schemes across England. The funding will enable local authorities to deliver high-quality walking and cycling routes, improve public engagement for new schemes, and expand trials of side road zebra crossings. Additionally, £1 million will support the development of active travel routes in National Parks, aiming to provide sustainable transport options for millions more people.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/60-million-government-investment-to-transform-school-run-2-million-children - The UK government has invested £60 million to transform the school run for 2 million children. The funding will expand Bikeability cycle training to a million more young people and support walk-to-school programmes. The initiative aims to make it easier and safer for children to walk and cycle to school, promoting active travel and reducing congestion.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/healthy-cost-effective-travel-for-millions-as-walking-and-cycling-projects-get-the-green-light - The UK government has announced £200 million in funding for new walking and cycling schemes across England. The projects aim to create new routes and improve existing ones, making it easier and cheaper for people to choose active and green ways of getting around while better connecting communities. These include new junctions and pedestrian crossings in Liverpool, new segregated cycle lanes across the north-east, and a new 'travel corridor' in Gloucestershire with reduced traffic and high-quality cycle routes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-people-to-benefit-from-200-million-to-improve-walking-and-cycling-routes - The UK government has allocated £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes, aiming to generate up to 16 million additional walking and cycling trips annually. The funding will enhance rural connections, create 120 miles of cycling track, and support 130 schemes to assist over 35,000 children on their way to school. These improvements are expected to boost healthier travel options and stimulate local economies.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative was published on 11 July 2025. A search for similar content revealed no earlier publications of this specific initiative. The report cites a £300 million government investment announced earlier this year, indicating recent developments. The content appears original and not recycled. The presence of updated data suggests a higher freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The report includes a reference map with citations, enhancing credibility. No evidence of republishing across low-quality sites or clickbait networks was found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The direct quote from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander appears to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording matches the press release, indicating authenticity. No variations in quote wording were noted. The absence of earlier matches suggests the content is potentially original or exclusive.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from Mirage News, an Australian news outlet. While it provides a link to the original press release, the outlet's credibility is uncertain due to its limited presence and lack of verifiable information. The Department for Transport's press release is a reputable source, but the intermediary's reliability is questionable. The Transport Secretary's direct quote adds credibility, but the overall source reliability is moderate.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The initiative aligns with the UK government's active travel objectives, as outlined in the Active Travel England framework document. The £300 million investment and the goal of creating 300 miles of new cycleways and pavements are consistent with previous announcements. The narrative's claims are plausible and supported by existing government strategies. No inconsistencies or suspicious elements were identified.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents a plausible and timely initiative aligned with government objectives. However, the source's reliability is moderate due to the intermediary's uncertain credibility. While the content appears original and the quotes authentic, the overall assessment remains open with medium confidence.

active travel
school run
Department for Transport