Toolkit for School Travel - National Transport Authority

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Section 1: Introduction
Intended Audience
This toolkit outlines actions to promote more sustainable travel for the
school trip through increased walking, cycling, public transport and car-sharing.
The first intended audience are teachers, parents and other responsible
members of a school community, who can then share and discuss the ideas
with both primary and secondary pupils.
Before you read this toolkit
The toolkit was developed by An Taisce Green-
Schools in cooperation with the National
Transport Authority, and is based on case study
evidence from the An Taisce Green-Schools
Travel programme.
As of September 2010, over 850 schools and 180,000
pupils in the programme are implementing initiatives
to promote sustainable travel. To date, schools in
the Green-Schools Travel programme have been
very successful in increasing walking and cycling and
reducing car use. Results from 10,000 students in
112 schools who undertook the programme for the
period 2008-2010 show a 27% reduction in private
car use and a correspondingly significant increase in
numbers of pupils walking and cycling to school.
Table 1:
Targets Set for the Green-Schools Travel Programme
The success of the Green-School Travel programme
is based on two factors. The first is that the Green-
Schools Travel module is delivered through the
effective ‘7 Step’ methodology, which acts as a
guide to teachers and pupils.
The 7 Steps are as follows:
1. Establish a Green-Schools Committee
2. Carry out an Environmental Review of
current travel patterns
3. Devise a Travel Action Plan
4. Monitor and Evaluate progress
5. Identify Curriculum Links
6. Inform and Involve the Wider Community
7. Develop a Green Code.
Year Car Mixed mode Public transport Walk or cycle
2011 -15% +3% +2% +10%
2012 -16% +3% +2% +11%
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