Scottish Parent Teacher Council School Travel Survey Introduction

Transcription

1 Introduction Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) is a membership organisation and charity whose purpose is to make parental involvement in children's education as good as it possibly can be. Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute. Sustrans conducted this survey to better understand the concerns and challenges of school travel faced by parents. The survey asked parents how their children travel to school and why they travel in this way. Parents were asked about perceived barriers and the factors that would enable their children to travel to school by walking, cycling or scootering. Sustrans will use this information to shape our services, resources and initiatives. We work with pupils, parents, teachers and local communities making the streets around schools safer for people to choose to travel under their own steam. For more information about Sustrans and what we can do for your school please contact: schools-scotland@sustrans.org.uk Summary * 1,232 parents and carers responded to the survey! Thank you! * 51.2% of pupils travel to school actively, by walking, cycling or scootering. * 54.5% of pupils travel from school actively, by walking, cycling or scootering. * The main reasons for choice of school travel mode: * Convenience (32.0%) * To maintain or improve physical health and fitness (30.4%) * Safety (physical, e.g. traffic) (29.4%) * The main barriers to children travelling actively to school as perceived by parents: * It isn't safe (practical, e.g. traffic) (42.4%) * Lack of cycle routes (29.0%) * It's too far to walk (22.1%) *The main factors which would encourage children to travel actively: * Safer cycling routes (63.2%) * More and improved cycle paths (61.9%) * Slower traffic speeds near school (61.0%) Circulation status Date issued Author Internal - RMU and Sustrans Scotland schools team External - Scottish Parent Teacher Council and Transport Scotland 30th June 2017 Emma Walker Sign Off Suzanne Motherwell - 30th June 2017 Date for next review tbc

2 Contents Summary p.1 Methodology p.3 Q.1 Age p.4 Q.2 School travel mode p.5 Q.3 School travel accompany p.6 Q.4 Reasons for choice of school travel mode p.7 Q.5 Access to bike p.9 Q.6 Barriers to active travel p.10 Q.7 Encouraging active travel p.12 About Sustrans Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute. Join us on our journey. Sustrans July 2017 Registered Charity No (England and Wales) SC (Scotland) VAT Registration No About Scottish Parent Teacher Council Scottish Parent Teacher Council is a membership organisation and charity whose purpose is to make parental involvement in children's education as good as it possibly can be. We work with parents, schools and local authorities all over Scotland to achieve this. We do it because we believe that parental involvement is one of the most important factors in improving positive outcomes for young people Registered Charity No. SC (Scotland) Company No. SC151086

3 Methodology This survey was sent out and shared by Scottish Parent Teacher Council. The survey was hosted on Bristol Online Surveys (BOS) and was open from the 17th of March to the 24th of April The link to the survey was sent to over 3,000 parents via Parents' Voice, SPTC's online survey group. The link to the survey was also shared across SPTC's social media channels and in SPTC's newsletter. There was also some evidence, through personal correspondence, that parents passed the survey link on to other parents they knew such as members of their local school's parent and teacher groups. Respondents came from across almost all areas in Scotland. However, to this survey represent a small sample of Scotland s parents who are engaged with a national charity for parental involvement in education and therefore the results are not representative of all parents across Scotland. Due to the nature of the survey, there is also the consideration of social desirability bias, which may have influenced responses. Measures were taken not to emphasise the focus on active travel or to disclose the role of Sustrans, other than as a 'transport charity' until after survey completion, however the nature of the questions and possible awareness of Sustrans work may have influenced parents' responses.

4 Total number of survey : 1,232 Age of children The majority of parents who responded had children of primary school age, 31.0% of pupils were P1-3, 42.2% of pupils were P4-7 and 27.0% were secondary pupils. Q1. Age of child: What year is your child in? % of Year Primary % Primary % Primary % Primary % Primary % Primary % Primary % Secondary % Secondary % Secondary % Secondary % Secondary % Secondary % Total* % *Parents could include information of up to five children. Chart 1:School year group of children Year group of pupils % 9.1% 10.2% 11.4% 11.4% 11.1% 8.3% 7.5% 6.1% 3.9% 4.5% 3% 2% Year Group

5 School travel mode Parents stated how each of their children usually travels to and from school. Based on travel mode as reported by parents, 51.2% of pupils travel to school actively by walking, cycling or scootering, with more children travelling home from school by these modes (54.5%). Of the children reportedly travelling actively to school, 46.4% walk, 2.8% cycle and 2.0% scoot. For travel home from school, parents reported that more children walk (49.8%). The figures for cycling (2.8%) and scootering (1.9%) are similar to those traveling to school. Q2. How does your child usually travel to/from school? Mode % of % of Walk % % Cycle % % Scooter % % Bus % % Train % % Car, on your own % % Car, with others % % Motorbike or Moped 0 0.0% 1 0.1% NA 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Other % % Total* % % * Parents could include information of up to five children. Chart 2: School travel mode To school Travel mode to/from school Home from school Mode Walk Cycle Scoot Bus Train Car, on your own Car, with others Motorbike or Moped NA Other To school From school

6 School travel accompanied by According to the parents surveyed, the majority of children travel to and home from school with a parent or parent's partner. 50.9% of parent's accompany their children to school, but this figure drops to 44.2% when returning home from school. Parents reported that 55.7% of pupils travel to school accompanied by an adult and 39.7% travel alone or with friends or siblings. For travel home from school, 52.8% of children are accompanied by an adult and 41.3% travel alone or with friends or siblings. Other answers were generally a combination of the above options depending on the day of the week or with classmates when on a school bus. Q3. Who does your child usually travel to/from school with? Accompanied by % of % of On their own % % You or your partner % % Another child's parent 6 0.4% % Another family member or family friend % % Childminder % % Friend (unaccompanied by adult) % % Sibling (unaccompanied by adult) % % Other % % Total* % % * Parents could include information of up to five children. Chart 3: School travel accompany To school Travel to and from school with Home from school Accompanied by Other Sibling (unaccompanied by adult) Friend (unaccompanied by adult) Childminder Another family member or family friend Another child's parent You or your partner On their own From school To school

7 Reasons for choice of school travel mode The five main reasons for choice of school travel mode according to the surveyed parents are convenience (32.0%), to maintain or improve physical health and fitness (30.4%), physical safety, e.g. traffic (29.4%), to maintain or improve wellbeing (27.9%) and to experience the outdoors, fresh air and nature (27.0%). Q4. What are the main reasons for your child/ren using these modes of travel? Reason % of Convenience % Maintain or improve physical health and fitness % Safety - physical, e.g. traffic % Maintain or improve wellbeing % To experience the outdoors/fresh air/nature % Distance too far % Need car for onward journey to work % To socialise with their friends % Safety - personal, e.g. stranger danger % Time savings % Distance too close % Lack of alternatives % More than one child to get to a different destination % Weather % Poor access to cycle/walking routes % Environmental concerns % Cost % Other % Comfort % Health issues % Additional journeys % Total* 4196 * Respondents could select as many options as they wanted. All 1,232 answered this question.

8 Chart 4: Reasons for travel mode choice Main reasons for choice of travel mode Reason Convenience Maintain or improve physical health and fitness Safety - physical, e.g. traffic Maintain or improve wellbeing To experience the outdoors/fresh air/nature Distance too far Need car for onward journey to work To socialise with their friends Safety - personal, e.g. stranger danger Time savings Distance too close Lack of alternatives More than one child to get to a different destination Weather Poor access to cycle/walking routes Environmental concerns Cost Other Comfort Health issues Additional journeys 2.7% 1.9% 3.2% 5.9% 7.4% 22.3% 21.9% 20.8% 18.0% 16.3% 14.2% 13.3% 12.1% 11.9% 11.4% 10.9% 32.0% 30.4% 29.4% 27.9% 27.0% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0%

9 Access to bike Parents reported that the majority of children (94.6%) have access to a bike and/or a scooter, however 5.4% of children do not have access to either a bike or a scooter. Q5. Does your child/ren have access to a bike or scooter? % of Access Yes - a bike % Yes - a scooter % No % Total* 1980 * Respondents could select as many options as they wanted. All 1,232 answered this question. Chart 5: Child access to a bike and/or scooter Access to a bike or scooter % 63.7% 5.4% Yes - a bike Yes - a scooter No Bike or scooter

10 Barriers to active travel The main barriers to travelling actively to and from school for children, as perceived by their parents, are: it isn't safe (practical, e.g. traffic) (42.4%), lack of cycle routes (29.0%), it's too far to walk (22.1%), lack of time (16.6%) and it isn't safe (personal, e.g. stranger danger) (16.0%). The top four barriers for children are also barriers for parents. Not being able to fit travelling actively into their work patterns (23.9%) and it being too far to cycle (16.6%) are also barriers for parents. Q6. To what extent are the following factors barriers that prevent you or your child/ren from using active travel (e.g. walking, cycling, scootering) to school? Barriers to Active Travel Perceived barrier for parent Perceived barrier for their child Major Slight No Major Slight No It isn't safe - practical - e.g. traffic 30.5% 20.0% 49.4% 42.4% 23.2% 34.4% There aren't enough cycle routes that connect my place of work/school to my home 31.6% 17.5% 51.0% 29.0% 17.6% 53.4% It's too far to walk 24.0% 8.7% 67.3% 22.1% 10.6% 67.4% Don't have enough time 24.7% 20.5% 54.8% 16.6% 20.6% 62.8% It isn't safe - personal - e.g. stranger danger 9.4% 16.6% 74.0% 16.0% 28.6% 55.4% It's too far to cycle 16.6% 9.2% 74.2% 15.2% 9.7% 75.2% The weather 13.5% 36.9% 49.6% 13.5% 39.6% 46.9% Can t fit it into my work patterns 23.9% 19.6% 56.5% 12.3% 15.6% 72.2% It isn't practical for my lifestyle 15.3% 18.5% 66.2% 8.4% 13.8% 77.8% There is a lack of showers/ changing facilities at my destination 11.6% 10.1% 78.2% 7.2% 10.5% 82.3% It's too hilly 8.0% 11.0% 81.0% 6.5% 13.0% 80.5% Don't own a bicycle 14.4% 2.8% 82.8% 4.1% 1.8% 94.1% I/they wouldn't fit in 3.5% 5.1% 91.4% 3.6% 6.0% 90.4% Health issues 3.3% 5.5% 91.2% 1.6% 2.7% 95.7% The cost of cycling 2.1% 3.7% 94.2% 1.1% 2.4% 96.5% Fitness 3.5% 10.1% 86.4% 0.8% 3.7% 95.5% Total* * Respondents could select as many options as they wanted. All 1,232 answered this question.

11 Chart 6: Barriers to active school travel for parents Parents' barriers to Active Travel to School Barriers There aren't enough cycle routes that connect my place of It isn't safe - practical - e.g. traffic Don't have enough time It's too far to walk Can t fit it into my work patterns It's too far to cycle It isn't practical for my lifestyle Don't own a bicycle The weather There is a lack of showers/ changing facilities at my It isn't safe - personal - e.g. stranger danger It's too hilly Fitness I/they wouldn't fit in Health Issues The cost of cycling 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Major Slight Chart 7: Barriers to active school travel for children as perceived by their parents Pupils' barriers to Active Travel to School Barriers It isn't safe - practical - e.g. traffic There aren't enough cycle routes that connect my place of It's too far to walk Don't have enough time It isn't safe - personal - e.g. stranger danger It's too far to cycle The weather Can t fit it into my work patterns It isn't practical for my lifestyle There is a lack of showers/ changing facilities at my It's too hilly Don't own a bicycle I/they wouldn't fit in Health Issues The cost of cycling Fitness 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Major Slight

12 Encouraging active travel The main factors which would encourage children to travel to and from school actively according to their parents are: safer cycling routes (63.2%), more and improved cycle paths (61.9%), slower traffic speeds near school (61.0%) safer walking routes (57.0%) and secure cycle and scooter storage at school (53.2%). These are also the top encouraging factors for parents. Q7. To what extent would the following factors encourage you or your child/ren to use active travel (e.g. walking, cycling, scootering) to school? Influencing factors Encouraging for parent Perceived as encouraging for their child Very Neutral Not Very Neutral Not Safer cycling routes 60.0% 31.2% 8.8% 63.2% 28.2% 8.5% More/improved cycle paths 59.6% 31.2% 9.2% 61.9% 29.3% 8.8% Slower traffic speeds near school 57.3% 33.0% 9.7% 61.0% 29.4% 9.7% Safer walking routes 53.1% 35.7% 11.2% 57.0% 33.0% 10.0% Secure cycle/scooter storage at school 48.8% 39.6% 11.6% 53.2% 36.4% 10.5% Cycle/scooter training 43.3% 42.0% 14.7% 49.2% 37.7% 13.1% People to cycle/scoot to school with 37.3% 47.6% 15.2% 45.4% 41.3% 13.3% If my child could be accompanied by responsible adults 35.2% 47.3% 17.5% 37.0% 45.6% 17.4% Less to carry to school 29.7% 57.7% 12.6% 33.5% 54.2% 12.3% Improved access to school entrance 30.8% 55.4% 13.7% 31.9% 54.2% 13.9% Walking bus (meet up with adults and all walk to school) 28.7% 45.8% 25.5% 30.9% 43.8% 25.3% Total* * Respondents could select as many options as they wanted. All 1,232 answered this question.

13 Chart 8: Encouraging factors for active school travel for parents Encouraging Factors to Active Travel for Parents Cycle/scooter training More/improved cycle paths If my child could be accompanied by responsible adults Improved access to school entrance Factors Slower traffic speeds near school Less to carry to school People to cycle/scoot to school with Secure cycle/scooter storage at school Safer cycling routes Safer walking routes Walking bus (meet up with adults and all walk to school) Very Neutral Not Chart 9: Encouraging factors for active school travel for children, as perceived by their parents Encouraging Factors to Active Travel for Pupils Cycle/scooter training More/improved cycle paths If my child could be accompanied by responsible adults Improved access to school entrance Factors Slower traffic speeds near school Less to carry to school People to cycle/scoot to school with Secure cycle/scooter storage at school Safer cycling routes Safer walking routes Walking bus (meet up with adults and all walk to school) Very Neutral Not