NEARLY 5,000 Dorset children have saved 1,600kg of carbon dioxide from polluting our air by walking and cycling to school instead of travelling by car.
From April 19-30, more than 4,900 Dorset children took part in Sustrans Big Pedal, the UK's largest walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting to school challenge, which saw school communities across the county complete more than 29,000 active journeys to school.
If they had travelled to school by car instead, this could have created 1,600kg of carbon dioxide and 31kg of nitrous oxide.
Walking and cycling charity Sustrans commissioned a YouGov survey in April which found that 49 per cent of UK children worry about air pollution near their school, and 40 per cent of UK children believe the best way to bring down levels of air pollution near their schools is for more people to walk, cycle or scoot to school.
Speaking about the results of the Big Pedal competition, James Cleeton, director for south of England at Sustrans, said: "It's great to see how many journeys were made walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling in Dorset during Big Pedal.
"This year, perhaps more than ever, it has been brilliant to see so many people enjoying their active journeys to school. Being able to make the Big Pedal happen again despite the pandemic has been truly great.
"The results of our recent YouGov survey show just how concerned children are about air pollution in their local area. As adults, we should be doing more to make it easier for them, and us, to travel actively for everyday journeys like the school run.
"Sustrans is calling for national and local governments to prioritise high-quality walking and cycling routes and to accelerate the rollout of school streets."
The challenge was well received by councillors in Dorset, following data released by Sport England earlier this year which suggested there was a decline in the physical activity levels of children due to the coronavirus pandemic, with almost a third of children in England engaging in less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity in the 2019/20 academic year.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: "I was delighted to hear about the success of this year's Sustrans Big Pedal competition and want to thank everyone involved.
"A major part of our climate and ecological emergency strategy and action plan is to encourage and support more people to get our of cars and use more sustainable forms of transport, especially active travel.
"Dorset's school children represent the future of our beautiful county and it's wonderful to see so many helping to tackle climate and ecological change by reducing harmful carbon emissions as well as improve their health and wellbeing. Well done."
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