The school run is a great way to start the day with more energy, focus, and some fun!

Here you can find information and tips to help you choose alternative ways to travel to school.

Could you walk, wheel, cycle, or take the bus to school?

Choosing active travel or public transport, like taking the bus, helps to reduce congestion and boost your wellbeing. Fewer cars on the road at peak times means the roads are safer for everyone. Plus, you will be energised and ready for the day.

If you need to travel by car, could you park and stride by parking a short distance away from school and walking for five or ten minutes?

Did you know that Portsmouth has a high walk to school rate, with over 60% of our city children walking to school every day?

Walking to school helps to boost your health and wellbeing, making it easier to get some daily fresh air and exercise. It’s also a chance for quality time to chat with friends and family and learn more about your local community and environment.

Walking to school is a great way  to develop your road safety skills and independence, helping you prepare to eventually travel to school and beyond by yourself!

School Streets were introduced to Portsmouth in 2021. They open up roads to walking and cycling by temporarily limiting most motorised traffic around schools. Anyone interested in a School Street in their area should contact their local school. Head teachers of Portsmouth schools can work with the council to develop a School Street.

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and active. Cycling to school teaches you more about road safety and the Highway Code and helps you to develop your independence.

Here are our top tips for cycling to school:

• Plan your route using quiet roads, cycle lanes and cycle paths where you can – you might like to practice the route you’ll take before cycling to school for the first time
• Make sure your bike is in good working condition – Bikeability have some useful tips on how to maintain your cycle and the important checks to make regularly
• Always wear a helmet
• Be Bright, Be Seen – when the mornings and evenings are darker, make sure you have the right lights and reflectors on your cycle (a white front light and a red rear light, plus reflectors fitted to pedals and the rear of the cycle).
• Want to increase your confidence in cycling on the road? Bikeability is the leading cycle training programme and courses are available locally. Visit the Bikeability website for more information.

If you live further away from your school, catching the bus is a fun, easy, and greener travel option. Using the bus is also a great way to develop your road safety skills and build your confidence in using public transport.

The buses in Portsmouth are run by two bus operators: Stagecoach and First Bus. You can find more information about the bus you need to travel to school, as well as timetables and ticket information, on their websites – they also have live maps where you can plan your journey and find out when the next bus will be arriving.

If you will be using the bus by yourself and have never travelled by bus before, it might be a good idea to take a practice journey with an adult before you travel alone for the first time, so you know what to expect.

Top tips for bus travel

See our list of things to know and questions to ask for safe and easy bus journeys below:

• Get to your bus stop before the bus is due to arrive, just in case it’s running a bit early
• When the bus is approaching your stop, raise your arm to signal to the driver that you’d like to get on
• Tell the driver if you need a single, return, day, or even weekly ticket before you pay
• Press the button to let the driver know that you would like to get off at the next stop. If someone has already pressed the button, you don’t need to press it again

Can you say ‘yes’ to these questions?

• Do you know the number of the bus you need and how often it’s due to arrive?
• Do you know which bus stops you will use to get on and off the bus (including the side of the road they are on)?
• If you need to buy a ticket, do you know which ticket you need, and how to pay for it?
• Do you know what to do or who to contact if the bus is late or cancelled?

If you need the car for an onward journey, or you don’t have time to walk all the way to school, then why not park and stride to school?

Parking a short distance from school and walking the rest of the way in helps children to stay active and keeps the school gates clear of cars, making the surrounding roads safer.

We have produced park and stomp maps for selected schools in the city, with more to be published soon.

It’s important to stay alert to traffic and other road users when you are travelling to school. If you can, stick to routes which have traffic lights or a school crossing patroller, who can help you cross roads safely.

Parents, drivers and other road users are urged to be alert to children outside all schools at opening and closing times, and to be patient when pedestrians are crossing with school crossing patrols.