The chart illustrates the ways in which children aged between 11 and 16 in the UK travelled to school within different distance ranges in one year.
Overall, walking was by far the most popular method among those living within one mile of school, while the bus was the dominant choice for students living more than five miles away. Bicycles were mainly used at short to medium distances, whereas cars played a relatively minor role compared to walking and the bus.
Children living within 0-1 mile of school mainly went on foot, with an overwhelming figure of around 90%. In contrast, travelling by bus or car accounted for less than 10% each, while cycling represented a moderate proportion of just over 50%. Among those who lived 1-2 miles away, cycling became the leading means of transport (around 75%), followed by walking (about 60%). By comparison, car use was approximately 20%, and the bus was minimal at under 10%.
For pupils residing 2-5 miles from school, the most common methods were cycling and the bus, with car journeys also playing a noticeable role (just above 30%). Walking dropped sharply to below 30%. Finally, for those living over 5 miles, almost 70% used the bus, while just over 20% went by car. Walking and cycling were virtually negligible at this distance.