Scottish Transport Statistics No 30: 2011 Edition

RECENT RESEARCH REPORTS

Research reports published since the previous edition of "Scottish Transport Statistics" are listed below.

Title Cycle Training in Primary Schools Research
Publication date September 2011
Contractor

ODS Consulting

Purpose of research

This case study research explores the barriers to delivering on-road cycle training in eleven Scottish primary schools. It explores the experiences of these schools in planning, delivering and sustaining cycle training, including how some schools have overcome obstacles to introducing sustainable on-road cycle training programmes.

Main findings

Prior to this research being undertaken, there was limited evidence about on-road cycle training for primary school pupils in Scotland. This research has provided rich information about the experience of considering, planning, delivering and sustaining on-road cycle training at 11 schools in Scotland.

This research has highlighted that there are barriers to on-road training in Scotland. The biggest barrier relates to attracting volunteers to deliver the training. On-road training is seen as requiring more volunteer resources than off-road training, to ensure a suitable ratio of adults to children. Volunteering as an on-road trainer is also seen as a significant responsibility.

The research also demonstrates that many schools have successfully overcome barriers to run sustainable on-road cycle training programmes. On-road cycle training has been most sustainable where teachers and support staff are supportive of cycle training; where parents are supportive and keen to volunteer; and where support is available from the Road Safety Officer or Active Schools Co-ordinator.

As the research focused on a small sample of 11 schools, it does not provide wider evidence about the extent and nature of on-road cycle training programmes across Scotland. However, it does demonstrate that a number of the case study schools have moved to on-road cycle training programmes in recent years, and that Road Safety Officers and Active Schools Co-ordinators have played a critical role in supporting and sustaining this shift.

Overall, this research highlights that there is broad common agreement among the parents, teachers, volunteers, Road Safety Officers and Active Schools Co-ordinators interviewed in this research, that on-road cycle training is considerably more effective and more enjoyable for children than off-road cycle training.

Link to report

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j193632-00

 

Title National Debate on Young Drivers' Safety
Publication date March 2011
Contractor Atkins and Professor Stephen Stradling
Purpose of research This report presents the findings of a national debate on young driver safety undertaken across Scotland. It has been undertaken to meet a commitment in Scotland's Road Safety Framework to "conduct a public debate on young driver issues including graduated licences and additional training".
Link to report http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j13564-00

 

Title Understanding Why Some People Do Not Use Buses
Publication date April 2010
Contractor Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen)
Purpose of research Qualitative research to explore in depth the reasons why some people do not use buses (often or at all) and what might encourage them to do so. Existing research on bus travel in Scotland has mostly been quantitative. Although survey data is useful in measuring use of buses, it can be limited in the level of detail it provides on why people use particular modes rather than others. This research was intended to address that gap.
Main findings Participants identified a wide range of barriers to bus use. Their beliefs about local bus services reflected a combination of previous experience (recent as well as long-past), 'hearsay' from other people, and media coverage. There was considerable overlap in the barriers raised by men and women, older and younger people, those in urban and rural areas and people with and without disabilities (although some particular issues were raised by disabled people).

Descriptions of buses as 'inconvenient' relative to the car appear to reflect a number of more specific issues, relating to directness and journey speed, the need to make multi-stage or multi-purpose journeys and the need to carry paperwork or equipment. When comparing the costs of making a journey by car or by bus, car owners appear to focus on petrol and parking costs - they do not include the full costs of owning, insuring and running a car in their comparisons.

Three broad groups were identified in terms of their attitudes to using buses more in the future: 'Bus Refusers', who were strongly attached to their cars and opposed to using buses more; 'Bus Pessimists', who said they would like to use the bus more, but do not currently see it as an attractive option; and those who are 'Willing to be Convinced', who were more likely to mention positives to using the bus - both personal and environmental. However, people across these groups felt major changes would be needed for them to use the bus more often in the future.

The findings suggest that future actions to encourage people to use the bus (more) need to focus on highlighting the advantages (both personal and environmental), mitigating or challenging views of the disadvantages, and making it as easy as possible for someone who has not used the bus for some time to do so.
Link to report http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/04/23115458/0