Sustrans has created the first ever Children’s Walking and Cycling Index, designed to help better understand the behaviours, barriers and attitudes affecting how children walk, wheel and cycle in the UK.
Children are often overlooked by decision-makers in transport except on journeys to and from school.
This leaves out the role that travel plays in their day-to-day lives, supporting development of their independence, socialisation skills, overall mental health and wellbeing, and reducing the family workload.
This new report gives a voice to children across the UK.
And by listening to young people, decision-makers can change how they approach children’s journeys so we can make walking, wheeling and cycling a more attractive, and everyday way for children to travel.
Children’s needs must be prioritised
Sustrans are calling for children’s needs to be prioritised when councils are planning transport improvements in their area.
Transport design that is inclusive for children is safer and more accessible for everyone, opening up opportunities for healthier lives through giving people a real choice about how they make short journeys in their area.
Amid an obesity epidemic and an urgent need to reduce pressure on the National Health Service, walking and cycling offers both a prevention and a solution to poor health that is important to the mission of every government in the UK to improve people’s health.
Source: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/the-walking-and-cycling-index/childrens-walking-and-cycling-index/