Hands Up Scotland, 2016

Latest results published from the Hands Up Scotland Survey have found walking was the normal mode of travel for 42% of children in Scotland.

Since the beginning of the survey in 2008, active travel has consistently been the most popular mode of travel to school.

The latest results from the Hands Up Scotland survey are from 450,000 children from 1,926 schools and 31 local authorities in Scotland.

Key findings

• 42.9% of children walked to school last year compared to 48.3% in the first survey in 2008.
• Walking was the most common mode of travel to school.
• 42.9% of pupils normally walk to school, 3.5% of pupils normally cycle to school and 2.8% of pupils normally scooter or skate to school.
• 16.7% of pupils normally travel to school by bus.
• 9.3% of pupils normally park and stride to school.
• 24.2% of pupils normally travel using private motorised transport.

Hands Up is an annual survey on the mode of travel to schools and nurseries in Scotland, published by Sustrans and funded by Transport Scotland to provide an accurate and up to date picture of how pupils travel to school. It is now in its ninth year.

Read more