Children across the UK recorded a total 2,439,600 active journeys to school during the Big Walk and Wheel (16th-27th March 2026), according to our latest results.

In the UK’s largest annual school active travel challenge 782,777 children travelled the school run on foot or by scooter, bicycle or wheelchair.

The challenge took over three million cars off the road, and saved 1,774,414 kg of carbon dioxide.

Schools across the country topped the leaderboards with some schools seeing 100% of their pupils travelling actively. Over 500 schools recorded a daily average of 65% or more children walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling the school run.

The results come two months after the government published its Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which aims to achieve 60% of children travelling actively to school by 2035.

Big Walk and Wheel is sponsored by Schwalbe Tyres UK limited. Now in its 17th year, the challenge helps inspire families to make active journeys to boost health, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

This year included a mass FRideDays Bike Bus – when families join to ride the school run together – on 27th March. 26 bike buses around the UK joined the challenge.

When more people travel actively for short, everyday journeys - such as to and from school – there’s less traffic on the roads. This eases congestion, reduces pollution and creates safer neighbourhoods around schools.

Rachel Toms, our Connected Neighbourhoods Director said:

“Congratulations to all the pupils who took part in Big Walk and Wheel. This is an incredible achievement, and really demonstrates what is possible when families walk, wheel or cycle some, or all, of the school run.

“We welcome the government’s commitment in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy to improve infrastructure that will make streets around schools safe and easy for everyone to use on foot, wheelchair or cycle.”

Walking, cycling, wheeling or scooting are a great start and end to any school day, with teachers reporting that children arrive feeling happier, more alert and ready for learning.

An active school run also has a positive impact on neighbourhoods and communities around schools, with quieter, safer streets, and less air pollution.

Yet many children and their families do not feel safe enough to travel the school run on foot, mobility aid or cycle.

In our survey of over 1000 children, 81% said they wanted to see more quiet routes and traffic-free paths for walking and cycling, and 78% said they would like more cycle paths along roads to be physically separated from cars.

We work with schools to implement School Streets, which restrict traffic around the school gate at peak times.

We offer free resources to help schools increase active travel, and to inspire pupils about the benefits of walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling their journeys. This includes FRideDays bike buses, when larger groups of children and their families ride their school journeys together.

Find more results on the Big Walk and Wheel, including top-performing schools across the UK.