Councils Guided to Establish School Zones for Pedestrian Use Only
In England, the implementation of School Streets is gaining momentum, with the aim of creating safer, healthier environments for children. The UK's Active Travel England and Department for Transport have published comprehensive guidance for local authorities to set up and run these schemes.
Rachel Toms, Director of Urbanism at active travel charity Sustrans, supports the guidance, citing its ability to make active travel to and from school safer and more enjoyable. School Streets aim to restrict motor vehicle access outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times, encouraging walking, cycling, and scooting. This not only reduces traffic congestion but also lowers air pollution, with nitrogen dioxide reductions of up to 23%.
The guidance outlines key considerations for local authorities. These include purpose and benefits, scheme operation, stakeholder engagement, traffic management and complementary measures, trial and evaluation, legal and operational aspects, and school selection.
The process of school selection takes into account traffic-related problems near the school, school support, and the potential for active travel. Sustrans, which has been working to make the school run easier, cheaper, and fun for millions of children in the UK, looks forward to collaborating with councils to realize their ambitions.
School Street schemes are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and many factors must be considered. The guidance covers potential scheme designs, including whole street, part of a street, or multiple streets around the school.
Chris Boardman, the UK's National Active Travel Commissioner, supports the implementation of School Street schemes. He believes that these schemes can reduce congestion on roads during school run times, benefiting residents and businesses. Over 180 school streets in the country have already benefited from the government's Active Travel Fund.
The guidance also discusses the implementation, enforcement, and responsibilities after launching a school street scheme. It emphasizes the importance of balancing traffic restrictions with community needs, clear operational processes, robust enforcement strategies, and ongoing evaluation. The aim is to design a scheme layout that maximizes effectiveness and minimizes undesirable impacts.
Children who travel actively to school are more alert and engaged in class, are healthier, and enjoy spending quality time with their friends and family. National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman also emphasizes that School Street schemes provide opportunities for children to exercise and build healthy travel habits.
The full guidance, along with relevant case studies, can be accessed online. For more information and updates on School Streets, visit the Sustrans website.
- In collaboration with councils, the active travel charity Sustrans awaits the opportunity to work towards creating a lifestyle that encourages walking, cycling, and scooting in selected neighborhoods, elevating the home-and-garden environment for families and supporting education-and-self-development of children.
- Recognizing that School Street schemes should cater to various community needs, the comprehensive guidance suggests potential designs, including whole or partial street closures, or multiple street configurations, to minimize undesirable impacts on residents and businesses whilst maximizing efficacy.
