I’ve had lots of lobbying this month about safer streets, especially for children going to and from school. The national campaign organisation Sustrans are running a campaign at the moment about every child’s right to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

In 2012, the number of children killed while walking or cycling on our roads was equivalent to over one primary school class, and the equivalent of over seven whole primary schools were seriously injured.

Because of the risks, less than half of school children walk and very few cycle, despite most living within walking or cycling distance of their schools.

The Sustrans campaign is calling for three key things, all of which I am backing:

•             Dedicated funding from the Government – provides the resources needed to transform routes and invest in walking and cycling at the local level

•             20mph default speed limit across built up areas – makes everyone’s route safer

•             Stronger duties and incentives on Local Authorities to develop routes and promote walking and cycling

Here in Brighton and Hove there’s already been a concerted effort to make our streets safer. As a result, regular cycling to school has doubled in one year and the numbers of pupils walking to schools are also on the increase.

The constituents who have written to me in support of the Safer Streets campaign point out that ours could be the first generation of children who live shorter lives than their parents through inactivity. It’s great that Brighton and Hove is starting to buck the trend.

We can change the future by getting our children active and healthy – starting with the school run.