Active travel to Guernsey schools reaches new heights
- Active travel has surpassed car journeys for school commutes.
- A 14% increase in active travel to primary schools since October 2021.
- A 9% increase in active travel to secondary schools since October 2021.
- Survey measures student travel habits biannually by class participation.
- Initiatives are in place to promote active travel and ensure sustained engagement.
The Health Improvement Commission for Guernsey and Alderney has reported a significant rise in active travel among schoolchildren in the Bailiwick.
As of May 2025, active travel accounted for higher percentages of school journeys than those taken by car, indicating a shift in transportation trends.
Data from the recent School Active Travel Survey, conducted twice a year since 2020, shows that active travel to primary schools has increased by 14 percentage points from 37% to 51% since October 2021.
Active travel to secondary schools also observed a 9 percentage point gain, rising from 29% to 38% in the same period.
Amy Woollaston, Active Travel Officer at the Health Improvement Commission, said: "It is great to see a steady upwards trend in active travel to and from Guernsey schools, with May 2024 to May 2025 having the highest levels of active travel since records began in 2020."
The annual survey, which asks students how they travel to school through a show of hands over two days, defines active travel as methods such as walking, cycling, scooting, or a combination of these with motorised transport, known as blended travel.
Woollaston noted that while the survey provides a snapshot that may fluctuate due to various factors, the presence of well-structured initiatives and sustainable strategies can lead to long-term behaviour changes among students.
The Be Active team at the Commission is dedicated to promoting regular walking or cycling as an accessible method of transport and aims to enhance the school journey experience through improved environments.
The department's initiatives face the challenge of maintaining the enthusiasm generated during Better Journeys Week and the summer months. One such initiative includes La Houguette Primary School implementing a School Street, following the model established by St Martins’.
Additional efforts by the Commission include collaborations with Traffic and Highways teams to assist more schools in developing travel plans aimed at enhancing active travel and reducing congestion around school premises.
The Bikeability programme continues to provide inclusive cycling training in schools, with a focus on increasing adult cycling skills to build family confidence in these methods. The introduction of walking buses and cycle trains offers more opportunities for students to travel actively.
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