Decision details

(i)       to agree the importance of active travel on health and mental wellbeing of school pupils and that this had a positive impact on readiness to learn;

(ii)       to note that the Sustrans Hands Up Scotland report published in May 2023 showed that the number of primary school pupils in Aberdeen City Council walking to school had declined from 65.1% in 2008 to 53.6% in 2022. 22.2% of pupils are driven to school;

(iii)      to acknowledge that Parent Councils across the city were regularly raising issues regarding pupil safety caused by inconsiderate parking and driving around drop off and pick up time;

(iv)      to note that in the October 2022 active travel survey, all primary schools in the city offered Bikeability level 2, bike/scooter parking and encouraged park and stride amongst the school community; and

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, Chief Officer - Education and the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to bring back a report on options for how to promote and improve active travel routes around schools.