My picture shows me tired but happy after cycling from London to Paris last year - four days at 70 miles a day was demanding, but incredibly rewarding. Cycling in France is a whole different experience - whilst the sound of a car horn in the UK means 'get off the road!' in France it is invariably a sign of admiration.
I'm writing a book to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and get their kids walking and cycling to school. It is going to combine practical advice with case studies and quotes from children, parents and teachers. The book aims to inspire others to get out of their cars and enjoy the trip to school whether they are in the leafy coutryside or the exciting inner city. It is going to be an entertaining mix of personal experience and policy review and proposals. When Carfree and Carefree is available, you will be the first to know, but until then, I will give you a taste of the book by adding suggestions and tips to my blog :
- Are you a parent trying to encourage others in your school to set up a walking bus?
- Do you have no time to do this alongside career or family commitments?
- Have you run out of ideas to persuade your head teacher to develop a School Travel Plan?
- Do you find it hard to leave the car at home on cold winter mornings?
- Do you wonder where to turn to get funding for bike sheds in your school?
- Do you ask yourself what you can do about your kids journey to school
- Are you interested in finding out how you can get thousands of pounds worth of grants to improve your neighbourhood for kids walking to school?
If so, this book is for you. It is a practical guide for parents, children and teachers and is based on over fifteen years of experience as a mother in London, one of the most congested towns in the world with particular problems and challenges at school drop off time.
Whilst it is accepted that cutting car travel is a major piece of the jigsaw in terms of cutting C02 emissions and saving the planet, there is very little information on the market for parents and teachers on how getting kids out of cars can help address these concerns and also meet health objectives.
There is also strong interest but often quite undeveloped thinking in local councils about what works and what doesn't work, what motivates parents and kids and how the right environment can be created to discourage car use.
I want to hear from you on what has worked for you and your school and what your challenges have been in terms of addressing these issues.
