Bethany Wiseman, our senior sustainable travel officer, shares more ways to get involved this Active Travel Month.
Whether it's walking, cycling, scooting, or catching the bus, swapping just a few car journeys each week can make a real difference to your wellbeing, reduce congestion around schools and support a healthier lifestyle.
Walktober
October is Walktober! If you can walk all the way to school, park a little further away or go on a family stroll after school, every step counts.
Walking is a simple way to build physical activity into your daily routines and is a great opportunity to support your mental wellbeing.
BetterPoints, the rewards app for active travel journeys, has launched the Walktober campaign. Users can get more rewards recording their journeys this month. Accumulate BetterPoints to get discounts on high street shops or donate money to charity.
Download the app and find out more on the BetterPoints page.
Set, Pedal-Go!
Set, Pedal-Go! is a programme designed to help Year 5 and 6 pupils learn to ride a bike. Schools that take part receive bikes, free staff training, bike maintenance support, and guidance on setting up a bike library.
Promoting regular physical activity through cycling can help to improve children’s concentration, boost their mood and support overall wellbeing whilst also helping to develop confidence, independence and road safety awareness.
To find out more, visit the Set, Pedal-Go! page.
Catching the bus
Leaving the car at home where possible can help to reduce traffic congestion around schools.
Walking to a bus stop and using local bus services is an easy way to make school journeys more active while still being practical for busy households.
School bus services available
We work with a number of bus operators to provide a range of dedicated school and college transport services across the county, helping students travel safely and conveniently to their place of education.
These include:
HC2 – Robert Smyth Academy
HC3 – Welland Park Academy
HC4 – Welland Park Academy
LC1 – John Ferneley College and Melton Vale Sixth Form College
LC3 – Kesteven & Grantham School and Kings School
LC4 – Robert Smyth School
LC5 – Humphrey Perkins School
LC7 – Uppingham Community College
LC12 – Racemeadow Primary Academy
LC13 – Brookvale Groby Learning Campus
LC14 – The Hinckley School
LC15 – Leicester College
LC16 – Nanpantan Nursery School
LC17 – South Leicestershire College
MC1 – John Ferneley College
MC3 – Melton College
MC4 – John Ferneley College and Birchwood School
FoxConnect
Our flexible on demand-responsive transport service can help reduce the number of cars on the road while still getting you to where you need to be.
With 11 operating zones, you can choose where you want to be picked up and dropped off, meaning it’s a convenient and flexible way to travel at a time that suits you.
As part of our autumn travel offers, FoxConnect journeys are currently available at 50% off on Saturdays until December, making it even easier to leave the car at home and explore your local area.
Find out more on the FoxConnect page.
Making active travel part of everyday life
Whether it's walking one day a week, cycling when the weather allows, or choosing the bus instead of travelling by car, every small change can have a positive impact.
Active travel is about finding simple, realistic ways to move more by creating healthier habits that can last throughout the school year and beyond.
As your children settle into the new school year, why not consider how active travel could become part of the journey?