The article, authored by five researchers — including three from the University of Granada’s Department of Physical Education and Sports — analyses the benefits of actively commuting to and from school and has been recognised as a Top Cited Paper by the publisher Wiley. The research paper, entitled “Contribution of active commuting to and from school to device-measured physical activity levels in young people: A systematic review and meta‐analysis”, was published in July 2023 in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

The article had already been ranked among the journal’s most cited papers for 2023, reflecting its relevance and impact on the scientific community working in the field of public health. It was also selected and disseminated by School Health Pulse, a knowledge transfer platform run by the University of Cambridge, further underlining its international reach and influence.

One of the main findings of the research was that active commuting to and from school can contribute up to 48% of the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity on school days, provided that both trips are undertaken actively. Active commuting to school can provide an average of nine minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, while the return trip can add up to twenty minutes, together accounting for 48% of the recommended total. The data shows that this type of commuting to and from school is an effective strategy for promoting physical activity in childhood and adolescence.

Furthermore, higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were observed on the way home from school than on the way to school. This difference may be due to the fact that young people have more time and freedom to play or participate in planned activities on the way home, as there is less time pressure than on the way to school.

The study consisted of a systematic review, including a meta-analysis, which examined the extent to which active commuting to and from school contributes to levels of physical activity — recorded using devices — in young people aged 6 to 18. The review included fourteen studies that analysed 7,127 boys and girls, differentiating between light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, as well as between trips to and from school.

The work also highlights the influence that teachers can have in encouraging students to commute actively. The researchers emphasise that close collaboration between schools, families, local authorities and other stakeholders increases the likelihood of such active commuting. They also propose key measures such as installing bike racks, organising groups for walking or cycling to school, road safety and cycling lessons, and providing more education about the benefits of walking and active commuting. They also stress the need to guarantee safe and accessible routes to school for children and their families.

In addition, the article highlights that walking or cycling to school not only improves children’s physical health, but that the positive effects of this practice extend beyond school age. Scientific evidence shows that young people who adopt this habit are more likely to achieve the recommended weekly levels of physical activity in their youth, and also to remain active into adulthood. According to Pablo Campos, the principal investigator of the study, “these results directly support the commitments set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. In particular, they contribute to the fulfillment of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), by promoting regular physical activity from an early age, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), by reinforcing the need for urban environments that promote active, safe and inclusive mobility. Thus, the promotion of active commuting to and from school represents a key tool for achieving the global sustainable development goals.”