Letter: Walking to school

Sir: John R E Bell is right to stress the risk that "parental choice" in education will lead to longer school journeys and hence reduce children's ability to walk or cycle to school (letter, 18 March). But this problem should not be overstated.

From the mid-1970s, the average distance travelled to school by five- to 10-year-olds rose from 1 to 1.2 miles. The average school journey of 11- to 15-year-olds rose from 2.5 to 2.8 miles over the same period.

These trends are worrying but not disastrous. To increase walking and cycling to school, we need to tackle parental concerns over speeding traffic and "stranger danger".

We also need proper "joined-up thinking" in government to prevent education policy undermining attempts to promote sustainable school travel. Otherwise the nine-mile school journeys confronted by Mr Bell in Bishops Stortford could become the norm, not the exception.

BEN PLOWDEN

Director

The Pedestrians Association

London SW8