The first report of its kind, the Children’s Walking and Cycling Index, was published by Sustrans in February 2025. The Children’s Walking and Cycling Index focuses on the travel behaviours and attitudes of children. Sponsored by Halfords, the survey included over 1,000 children aged six to 15 years across the UK. The report provides evidence of how children are getting around outside of the usual focus on school journeys.
Here, we have a look at some of the key findings relating to walking, wheeling and scooting. Our reflections are summarised in text format below, and through an interactive Flourish visualisation.
How often are children walking, wheeling and scooting?
It was found that over two-fifths of trips by children are made by walking, wheeling and scooting. 86% walked, wheeled or used a scooter in the last week, and 62% did so at least five times in the last week.
The survey found that overall, 1.36 billion trips are made by walking, wheeling or scooting by children each year in the UK. 38% of these trips are made to and from school, 32% to see friends and family or to visit other places. 30% of trips are visits to parks or playgrounds, or walking for fun.
Primary vs Secondary school walking
Encouragingly, levels of walking within primary and secondary schools were seen to be roughly the same, with little difference across gender and ethnicity.
Some differences were seen in relation to disability and socio-economic groups. For example:
- 57% of disabled children walked, wheeled or scooted at least five times in the last week, compared to 62% of non-disabled children.
- 60% of children from higher socio-economic groups walked, wheeled or scooted at least five times in the last week, compared to 68% of children from lower socio-economic groups.
Across both primary and secondary school, the greatest proportion of journeys to school are made by walking, wheeling and scooting – 43% and 42% respectively, followed by being taken by car or van (40% at primary school, 28% at secondary).
The proportions of children walking, wheeling or scooting to school five or more times in the last week are similar across primary and secondary school, 36% and 38% respectively.
Girls were seen walking, wheeling or scooting more frequently than boys for primary school journeys, with 49% of girls’ journeys made actively, compared with 39% of boys’ trips. At secondary level, the figures are 43% vs 41% respectively.
What do children think about their local area?
The survey explored what children thought about their local area, and how safe it is for walking, wheeling or scooting. Most children shared that they thought their local area is a good place to walk or wheel (89%), and they also considered it a safe place for this (87%). However not all groups felt as safe as each other, with disabled children being less likely to feel safe (79%) than non-disabled children (89%).
Children want safer streets for walking and wheeling
Children were also asked what could help them to walk or wheel more.
- 75% of children would find it useful if there were fewer cars on our streets
- 72% of children supported reducing the speed of cars
- 72% would find fewer cars parked on the pavement useful
- 83% of children said they would find it useful if there were more road crossings
When it came to specific actions that could be taken to make it easier to walk, wheel, or cycle, 81% were in support of more traffic-free paths and quiet routes for walking and cycling.
There were also high levels of support for improved planning, ensuring services they need are within walking distance (80%). 76% of children supported a ban on pavement parking.
Listening to children - making communities safer for walking
The research shows that most journeys by children are done by walking, wheeling and scooting. Though most (89%) say their local area is a good place to get around in, there is overwhelming support for measures to make local communities safer and more accessible. 51% of children feel like not enough is being done by the government to include them in improving their neighborhoods and country,
There are opportunities for participatory and co-designed planning of public spaces and travel routes. Offering children an opportunity to participate in planning, design and consultations sessions empowers them to take ownership of their spaces, places and enable them to travel actively, more frequently.
We aim to get young Scots walking and wheeling for everyday journeys. To enable children to choose walking and wheeling as their primary mode of transport, we must collaborate across all sectors, encourage communities and enable children to nurture lifelong habits from a young age.
As the report itself says, “By giving children the tools to make the changes they need, we can make it possible for more people to walk, wheel and cycle safely, healthily and joyfully.”