An integrated approach to school transport implies that: the practical first modal choice for more trips should be walking, cycling, or public transport; decisions on transport provision should be made by partnerships between local authorities and professionals; and solutions should treat all people fairly. Since the 1970s, such Safer Routes to Schools (SRTS) projects with these objectives have been developed world-wide. Schemes generally aim to: (1) improve safety and accessibility for walkers and cyclists; (2) enhance the personal skills of children to walk or cycle safely; and (3) increase the willingness of parents, children, and schools to participate in, and encourage, walking and cycling to school. This report discusses the context for SRTS activity in Scotland, summarises the results of surveys of Scottish local authorities, and SRTS practitioners, and presents case studies of journeys to seven schools. 16 of 32 Scottish local authorities were found to have active SRTS projects; 89 projects are in progress, but most of them began recently. The budgeted capital expenditure for SRTS schemes was ú576,000 in the financial year 1998-99. Most of the practitioners considered that the major concern was vehicles near school, especially those of parents, and that the main aim was to improve safety and accessibility for walkers, especially for children crossing busy roads.
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