New guidance from the Department for Education advises that the use of public transport by pupils, particularly in peak times, should be kept to an absolute minimum when all children return to school in September.

It adds that it will be necessary to “take steps to both depress the demand for public transport and to increase capacity within the system”, calls on schools to consider staggered start times and encourages walking and cycling “if at all possible”.

“Experience during the 2012 London Olympics showed that it is possible to make a very real difference to travel patterns where there is a concerted effort to do so and where the general public understand the imperative for doing so,” the guidance says.

Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Darren Shirley emphasised that, while many children are able to walk or cycle to school, “others with longer journeys are reliant on public transport and will have fewer alternatives come September”.

“The Government must therefore look to ensure there is adequate capacity for school buses to carry children safely and in line with the latest guidance on social distancing and face coverings.

“With significant spare capacity in the coach sector, and new contact tracing applications for bus services available, there should be no reason why it can't be made safe for all pupils to travel to and from school,” he said.

School transport specialist Kura’s chief operating officer Richard Woods agreed that walking or cycling to school is not viable for many and said taking away the option of public transport will leave many children and parents no choice but to travel by car.

“Pre Covid-19, the daily school run was responsible for one in four cars on the road during rush hour. The widespread return to schools in September is likely to worsen this issue. This would rapidly undo the clean air benefits we have enjoyed throughout lockdown.”

Encouraging families to walk to school will be an important part of ensuring streets do not become overwhelmed with traffic when pupils return to education this September, charity Living Streets emphasises.

“Around 95% of households live no further than a mile from their nearest primary school,” said the group’s director of policy and communications Stephen Edwards. “We need to be making it possible for these families to walk or cycle.”

He added that measures such as improved crossings, 20mph speed limits and ‘school streets’ – where cars are closed to vehicles at drop off and pick up times – could all help to make walking a safer and more attractive alternative to private car use.

Living Streets has also this week appointed as its new president the Conservative peer Lord Michael Bates, with transport planner Susan Claris of Arup becoming vice president.
(Photograph: Sustrans)