Active Travel In Pembrokeshire
Active Travel in Schools
Public Health Wales promotes Active Travel in schools through campaigns, data collection, and evidence-based interventions to make walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for school journeys where physically possible. They aim to improve child health, increase daily physical activity, and enhance air quality around schools, in line with the Active Travel (Wales) Act.
Results have shown that children who regularly walk, wheel or cycle to or from school can meet between 25-35% of their recommended amount of physical activity per school day. Active School Travel can also develop:
- Self-confidence
- Physical health
- Enhance mental wellbeing and focus
- Independence and safety awareness
- Skills in assessing and managing risk
- Problem solving
- Social skills
At a community and population level, increased Active School Travel can reduce motorised traffic volumes through modal shift, thereby decreasing pollution levels and reducing road danger.
Each year, Public Health Wales invites local authorities to carry out the Travel to School Hands Up Survey across all maintained primary schools in Wales. This validated survey records pupils’ self-reported mode of travel, building a clear picture of Active Travel habits across the country.
Below are the results from 2023 – 2024 in Pembrokeshire. Although more pupils participated in the 2024 survey, comparison of percentages shows the following year to year changes:
2023
Description |
Walk |
Cycle |
Scoot |
Car |
Bus |
Total no of participants |
| Number | 315 | 30 | 38 | 471 | 54 | 908 |
| Total % | 34.69% | 3.30% | 4.19% | 51.87% | 5.95% | not applicable |
2024
Description |
Walk |
Cycle |
Scoot |
Car |
Bus |
Total no. of particpants |
| Number | 347 | 56 | 63 | 655 | 81 | 1202 |
| Total % | 28.87% | 4.66% | 5.24% | 54.49% | 6.74% | not applicable |
Comparison
Description |
Walk |
Cycle |
Scoot |
Car |
Bus |
| 2023 | 34.69% | 3.30% | 4.19% | 51.87% | 5.95% |
| 2024 | 28.87% | 4.66% | 5.24% | 54.49% | 6.74% |
| Comparison | 5.85% decrease from 2023 | 1.35% increase from 2023 | 1.06% increase from 2023 | 2.62% increase from 2023 | 0.79% increase from 2023 |
Conclusion: It is encouraging to see increases in cycling and scooting, but the data also highlights clear opportunities to further strengthen Active Travel. Potential areas of focus include:
- Supporting schools with the creation of School Traffic Plans
- Behavioural change
- Training and education
- Promoting Active Travel culture
- Improving highway infrastructure where possible to encourage more Active Travel especially in urban areas
Prior the 2025 survey, Pembrokeshire County Council reviewed the transport categories to better capture how pupils travel to and from school in different weather conditions, while also expanding the range of available options. This approach will allow for a broader and more detailed dataset. The same format will be used going forward, enabling clear comparisons with the 2026 results which will take place in October.
The 2025 results for Pembrokeshire are as follows:
Commute |
No. of participants |
Walk |
Scoot |
Bike |
Skateboard |
Bus |
Car |
Train |
Park and Stride |
Taxi |
Minibus |
|
To school on a wet day |
2081 | 15% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 23% | 52% | 0% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
|
From school on a wet day |
1903 | 17% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 19% | 53% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 0% |
|
To school on a dry day |
1915 | 19% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 21% | 47% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
|
From school on a dry day |
1944 | 22% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 23% | 43% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 0% |
Matters to take into consideration
Children often use different modes of transport for journeys to and from school due to varying constraints in the morning and afternoon, such as parents’ work schedules, after-school activities, and the need for convenience. The morning journey is often driven to ensure punctual arrival, while the afternoon journey may involve public transport, walking, or carpooling, allowing for greater flexibility.
Children in urban areas may find it difficult to use Active Travel modes to get to and from school for several reasons:
- Heavy traffic making roads unsafe or intimidating to cross or cycle alongside
- Limited or narrow pavements that are crowded, especially during peak times
- Lack of safe cycling infrastructure, such as dedicated bike lanes or crossings
- Longer travel distances between home and school in some urban catchment areas
- Safety concerns, including stranger danger or busy junctions
- Poor air quality along main roads, discouraging walking, wheeling or cycling
- Time constraints for families who need quicker journeys before or after work
- Limited safe crossing points, such as zebra crossings or traffic lights
- Weather exposure without suitable sheltered routes
These factors can make Active Travel less practical, less safe, or less appealing for children in urban environments. Where possible the authority is looking into improving these constraints so that Active Travel can be enjoyed by as many pupils as possible.
Should you or the school in which your child attends has any suggestions for improvements or any new Active Travel routes please email the team.
Useful links:
Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust (opens in a new tab)
Public Health Wales (opens in a new tab)
Active Travel Wales Act (opens in a new tab)