Commonwealth Games 2026: How national events help inspire active travel in schools
Large scale national events can often be a catalyst for local change, especially when they capture the imagination of young people. At our School Active Travel Hubs, we’ve seen how events like the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games can be used to spark lasting engagement in active travel.
A great example of this comes from our work at Larbert High School, where pupils recently took part in Commonwealth Games themed cycling races during PE lessons. During this class, each class represented a different Commonwealth country, with pupils earning points through participation and performance. What made this initiative particularly powerful was the scale of engagement, with over 300 S2 pupils given the opportunity to try cycling as part of their PE experience. For many, this was their first time cycling within a structured school setting, and the fun competition format helped to break down barriers and encourage participation from pupils who might not usually engage with cycling activities. By linking the sessions to a national sporting event, cycling felt exciting, relevant and part of something bigger.
This approach reflects something we see time and time again: when active travel and physical activity are connected to wider themes or events, engagement increases significantly.
Using this knowledge, we run a series of school-wide events throughout the year to maintain active travel momentum. For example, our Active Travel Roadshows, which happen at the start and end of each academic year, give S1 pupils the chance to try a range of activities including scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, geocaching and bikes. These sessions help build confidence and introduce active travel in a fun, informal way at key transition points in school life.
Across the school year we also deliver themed activity weeks such as Walk to School Week, Bike to School Week and our Step Count Challenge. These whole-school initiatives are open to every pupil and teacher, helping to keep active travel inclusive and engaging for all. This year we saw particularly high engagement during our Walk to School Week sessions across the Falkirk cluster, where pupils took part in morning pop–up magic breakfasts. Set up inside the school, these pop– up tables gave pupils the chance to talk about walking to school, use stickers and stamps to record their journey, and receive small walking–themed gifts. 70% of pupils within the Falkirk cluster reported walking at least part of the way to school during the week, highlighting strong participation across the cluster and the value of visible, school–based engagement at the start of the day. By spacing these events throughout the year, we are able to maintain interest and energy around active travel, supported by daily sessions delivered by our active travel officers.
From Commonwealth Games inspiration to national and FEL Scotland challenge weeks, these opportunities all play a role in helping young people see active travel as something enjoyable and part of normal school life. At FEL Scotland, we will continue to link with national and local events, alongside developing our own themed activity weeks, to maintain momentum and keep active travel engaging within school communities.
If you’d like to know more about the work we’re doing in schools, read about our ten Schools Active Travel Hubs here.
