A Travelwest project successfully tackles school-gate congestion.

Parents and pupils at Stoke Lodge Primary School, Patchway, were shown the impact of their travel choices when they took part in a video to illustrate the extent of the school-gate congestion problem.  Parents dropping their children off by car and turning their vehicles around in the cul-de-sac were filmed early on in the school year.

The scene outside the school was then filmed again later in the year, following a series of Active Travel to School interventions. These included:

• Classroom-based and on-road training sessions
• Building on road safety skills
• Considering sustainable travel options
• Enrolment of pupil travel ambassadors
• Active travel event days

After the interventions, there was clearly a huge improvement in congestion levels, resulting in much greater pupil safety.

• Pupils said they felt healthier and had more fun on their way to and from school since starting more active travel, such as walking, cycling and scooting.
• Parents commented that there were social benefits too, meeting and chatting with other parents and children on route.
• The head teacher said he was excited that the school had taken its first step in developing a positive ethos around healthier travel and he’s looking forward to continuing this work to further reduce traffic congestion around the school.

A film was created as part of the Travelwest Active Travel to school project which aims to increase walking, cycling and scooting to school in South Gloucestershire.

The initiative was part of a programme of activities being delivered by Sustrans and South Gloucestershire Council, and funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to reduce car use on the school run.