Letter: Walking to school

Ben Plowden
Friday 19 March 1999 01:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: John R E Bell is right to stress the risk that "parental choice" in education will lead to longer school journeys and hence reduce children's ability to walk or cycle to school (letter, 18 March). But this problem should not be overstated.

From the mid-1970s, the average distance travelled to school by five- to 10-year-olds rose from 1 to 1.2 miles. The average school journey of 11- to 15-year-olds rose from 2.5 to 2.8 miles over the same period.

These trends are worrying but not disastrous. To increase walking and cycling to school, we need to tackle parental concerns over speeding traffic and "stranger danger".

We also need proper "joined-up thinking" in government to prevent education policy undermining attempts to promote sustainable school travel. Otherwise the nine-mile school journeys confronted by Mr Bell in Bishops Stortford could become the norm, not the exception.

BEN PLOWDEN

Director

The Pedestrians Association

London SW8

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in