Kinloss launchpad for school travel poll

A NATIONAL survey by a transport charity has been launched at Kinloss Primary to discover how young people travel to and from school.

Sustrans, which has organised the Hands Up survey, will quiz 700,000 pupils throughout Scotland next week. The results will be used to show where schemes have been successful in encouraging pupils to walk, cycle and use public transport and will highlight the areas that need more support.

Staff at Kinloss Primary have been involved in cycling projects in their area, including a nearby cycle path to encourage pupils to find environmentally friendly ways of getting to school.

Deputy head teacher Martin Collins said: “We have been promoting cycling in the school for the last few years, so this survey ties in well with that.

“Our policy encourages a healthy lifestyle and builds on skills that the children will learn in later life. They also get a lot of fun out of it as well.”

Over the last three years, with £10million of funding, Sustrans has been supporting new projects that increase the number of children walking and cycling to school across Scotland.

Philippa Cochrane, manager for school travel at Sustrans, said: “With obesity, climate change and rising oil prices at the top of the agenda, it’s crucial that we encourage and enable young people to choose healthy and active ways of travelling to school that also benefit the environment.”