Case Studies
Brisbane Active School Travel Program
Design Feature
Type of project
Local Government Initiative
State
Queensland
Location
Urban
Brisbane City Council’s Active School Travel (AST) program is a three-year travel behaviour change program for primary schools across Brisbane. It is the longest-running program of its type nationally. By focusing on school travel behaviour, AST encourages families to leave the car behind and walk, cycle, scoot, car pool or catch public transport to school.
In 2017, the program successfully reduced the number of single-family car trips to participating schools on average by 23%. Each year walking is the most popular mode and in 2017 the 23% average increase was primarily due to an increase in walking (20%). Some schools achieve active travel rates over 60%, with a majority of families choosing not to drive and thousands of children filling the footpaths instead.
In 2017, the program successfully reduced the number of single-family car trips to participating schools on average by 23%. Each year walking is the most popular mode and in 2017 the 23% average increase was primarily due to an increase in walking (20%). Some schools achieve active travel rates over 60%, with a majority of families choosing not to drive and thousands of children filling the footpaths instead.
Transforming the journey of 104,000 kids
The ATS program was established in 2004 and over 158 Brisbane primary schools have now participated. It was initially developed as a road safety program which then evolved into an active travel program to ensure there was a balanced approach to traffic congestion and health improvement. It also includes messages that support the well-researched health benefits to children from increased activity levels, such as walking and riding to school. The program is aligned with Brisbane City Council’s active transport vision, which is to create a high quality, connected, accessible pathway network which will attract people of all ages to walk and cycle.
By increasing the number of families who actively travel to school, the AST program aims to:
By increasing the number of families who actively travel to school, the AST program aims to:
- Boost exercise levels and improve health and wellbeing of students and parents
- Make school streets safer and less congested
- Create closer communities
- Improve students’ road safety skills
- Develop students’ independence.
Each school on the AST program establishes a committee that works closely with a dedicated Council officer who provides specialist behaviour change advice and resources.
Over the three-year program, each school implements strategies that provide families with the information, motivation and opportunity to adopt active travel modes.
Schools tailor the program to their needs and have access to:
- Dedicated Council Officer to provide practical advice and information
- Weekly active travel days
- AST passports for every student
- Rewards and incentives for individuals, classes and schools
- Customised active travel maps, with identified Park & Stride routes
- Professional assembly performances
- Bike and scooter skills training
- “Bus Buzz” public transport orientation sessions
- RACQ “Streets Ahead” road safety sessions.
Evaluation of the program is ongoing with current measurements including:
- Pre and Post AST-intervention survey
- Weekly, active travel day hands-up survey in class
- Survey of parents
- AST committee surveys
- Feedback forms for all skills training sessions
- Compilation of end-of-year evaluation report for each school.
To encourage more networking and ongoing participation in the program, the Brisbane Lord Mayor hosts an annual awards presentation where outstanding schools are recognised for their achievements and all schools are given an opportunity to share ideas.
Project team
- Brisbane City Council’s AST team
- Participating school AST committees which can include Principal/Deputy Principal, teacher/s, administration staff, parent/s, student representatives and local Councilor
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Royal Automobile Club Queensland (RACQ) Streets Ahead Program
- Bike and scooter skills providers and professional performers
- Transport for Brisbane (BCC).
Project Cost
Health value
- In 2017, the program achieved an average 23% increase in active travel. This equates to thousands of children (and their parents) getting out of their cars to get to school. As at 2018, over 104,000 children have taken part and have been encouraged to choose active travel, supporting their efforts in meeting recommended daily physical activity needs.
- With students actively travelling to school, students arrive mentally alert and ready to learn.
Economic value
The 2007 AST program was independently evaluated by Ian Ker (2008) to establish the economic benefits of the program and to evaluate the program methodology; “Even on a conservative basis, the benefits of the 2007 Brisbane City Council Active School Travel program exceed the costs by a factor of between 2.7 and 4.6. This assessment strongly supports maintenance and expansion of the Active School Travel Program”.
Environmental value
- School related traffic is a major contributor to rush hour congestion, impacting upon the efficient operation of the road network, causing slow journey times, poor air quality and road safety issues. By encouraging the use of active travel to children for commuting and recreation, this can prevent unnecessary car travel and reduce carbon emissions.
- The safe routes preferred by AST schools are mapped and printed for each family. These maps also help inform Council’s Urban Forest program to align shadeway planting.
Social value
Active School Travel activities and events, such as walking groups and event days, facilitate opportunities for social engagement and reinforce a sense of school community. The AST Awards night provides an opportunity for schools and local government to network and share ideas.
Use value
- Schools on the AST program have priority access to RACQ’s ‘Streets Ahead Road Safety Program. RACQ officers visit AST schools to deliver presentations covering road safety themes like passenger, pedestrian and bicycle safety.
- Annual parent surveys show that approximately 80-85% of parents believe their child’s road safety awareness improved as a direct result of the AST program.
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