Three major sustainability, health and environmental charities have joined Sustrans Cymru in calling for parents to rethink the school run, as pupils return to the classroom next week.

Sustrans Cymru, Living Streets Cymru, Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation and Friends of the Earth Cymru are urging parents across the country to leave their cars at home when accompanying their children to school, and to walk, cycle or scoot instead.

Their call is supported by deputy minister for economy and transport, Lee Waters.

With many people still working from home, daily commute travel patterns are likely to have changed.

The charities are asking parents to use this chance to make a positive change, by encouraging their children to travel to school in greener, healthier ways.

Neil Canham, Sustrans Cymru Deputy Director, said: “Our school streets cannot afford more congestion and air pollution.

“We are urging parents to use this opportunity to make a positive change to the way they travel to school, to make it safer and healthier for everyone.

“After a huge change in routine for many families, this is the perfect time to start the new healthy habit of active travel by leaving the car at home and making the school run fun with walking, cycling and scooting.”

During 2018/2019, active school travel has steadied at 44 per cent after a fall earlier in the decade. Urgent action is needed to prevent this falling further.

Lee Waters, deputy minister for economy and transport, said: “We know that when young people walk or cycle to school it can help embed healthy travel patterns in the long-term.

’’This summer we’ve made dedicated investment to improve active travel routes around schools and we encourage more pupils to be walking and cycling on the school run.”

Air pollution near schools is a particular cause of concern, it is estimated that air pollution contributes to 2,000 deaths a year in Wales.

Removing congestion from roads outside schools will create safer streets, keep children’s lungs safe from harmful air pollution, as well as help incorporate exercise into their daily routine.

Joseph Carter, head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales, said: “Several schools are hotspots for air pollution due to the high number of cars idling as parents drive their kids to and from school.

“We know how important it is that we change this – as children exposed to air pollution are 20 per cent more likely to develop a long-term lung condition like Asthma.

“As they return to school, parents can play their part in helping protect our children by ditching the car and instead either walk, cycle, or use public transport for the back to school trips.”

Rhiannon Hardiman, Wales Manager, Living Streets Cymru said: “New routines provide the perfect opportunity to introduce more activity into our lives.

’’Not only will walking, cycling or scooting to school help children and their families stay fit and healthy, it will also prevent roads from becoming gridlocked as journey numbers increase.

“It’s vital we choose healthy and active ways to travel as we emerge from the pandemic, so we don’t replace one crisis with crises around inactivity, air pollution and climate change.”

Haf Elgar, director, Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “Walking, cycling or scooting to school are green and healthy options – good for us and for the planet. As well as improving air quality around schools it reduces congestion and the climate-changing emissions that all those cars would produce."

Active travel isn’t just important for the fight against climate change and reducing air pollution. It’s also great for physical health and wellbeing.

Sustrans Cymru’s Active Journeys programme works with schools across Wales to create a culture that makes it easier for children to walk, scoot or cycle.