How we’re getting hundreds of children walking and cycling to school
Here at MP Smarter Travel, we work with local authorities to support families to travel more actively.
The school run can be a busy time on the roads as parents drop off and pick up children at the beginning and end of the school day.
Some of our most rewarding work has been with Havering Council, where we have supported their schools with organising Bike and Walking buses.
A safer, healthier and fun way to travel
These Bike and Walking buses create a safe and fun environment to get children walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling their school journeys.
Traffic on our roads and the worry about road safety can make the idea of walking or cycling to school feel like a challenge – a hurdle to overcome. This shouldn’t be the case. The school journey should be a positive experience to start and end the school day.
Take a look at our video to hear from children and cycle instructors about their Bike Bus experience:
A joyful experience
In Havering we have seen first-hand the joy that the young people express on the way to school and on the way home.
They tell us that it’s brilliant to go to school with other kids from their school.
The children who have a bike tell us how it’s great to get out on the bike in the morning. And the walkers and scooters love catching up with their friends along the way.
The children who took part in the Bike Bus came into school energised for the day. They keep asking me when we can do the next one! It has not only benefitted their health and fitness but also their friendships. I would definitely recommend to any school thinking about doing it, to give it a go.
Hannah Fox-Caroll, Teacher at Nelmes Primary School, London Borough of Havering
How Walking and Bike buses work
Walking and bike buses function like a regular bus. They have a designated route with scheduled stops along the way. The school publishes the timetable so the children, parents and carers know when they need to be at the stop. Then they join other children along the way.
Nobody is ever left alone as there are always at least two lead walkers or cycle instructors to guide people safely to and from school. These adults are authorised by the school.
Before we create the walking or cycle route, our team visits the area around the school to assess the traffic levels on the surroundings roads. We make sure that our routes follow quieter roads and serve the homes where the children live.
Bus breakfasts: the perfect way to start the school day
By the time the children arrive at school in the morning, members of our team will have been setting the table in the school hall with fruit, bread and pastries.
After an active start and a good breakfast, the children are ready to learn and look forward to the homeward-bound school and bike buses at the end of the day.
The Bike Bus was fabulous! The children loved coming to school with their friends on their bikes and everyone arrived each day with a big smile.
Organisation of the participants, set up of the WhatsApp group and supervision of the bus was all handled by the trainers organised by MP Smarter Travel. All we had to do as a school was provide a space for the Bikers’ Breakfast!
Caroline Brennan, Teacher at Engayne Primary School, London Borough of Havering
Too many young people are not being active enough
Sport England reports that more than half of children and young people aren’t meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended 60 minutes of daily physical exercise. More boys than girls are active for an average of 60 minutes a day and children from the least affluent families are least likely to be active.
Walking, scooting and cycling are included in Sport England’s definition of physical activity.
Their research concludes that there is a continued positive association between activity levels and mental wellbeing.
The National Travel Survey shows that the number of children walking or cycling to school has declined from 67% (63% walking, 4% cycling) in 1975/76 to 47% (44% walking, 3 %cycling) in 2003 (Barriers and Facilitators to Cycling to School for Children in the UK: A Systematic Review; Boland et al 2025).
A solution to help children be more active
The journeys to and from school present the perfect opportunities for millions of children in our towns and cities to get some of that recommended exercise into their day.
Take a look at the other work we do in schools.
Get in touch
Contact us if you would like support with setting up your own walking or bike bus: info@mpsmartertravel.co.uk