Millions more school runs across the country can now be
transformed to be healthier, safer, greener and more active,
thanks to new government guidelines published today (19 November
2024).
The guidance, published by Active Travel England and the
Department for Transport, outlines how councils can better
deliver school street schemes, so that they work best for pupils
and staff as well as local businesses and residents.
A School Street temporarily only allows motor traffic with a
permit outside the school gates at pick up and drop off times.
This creates a safer space for children and their families to
walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school, bringing a wealth of
benefits to both school pupils and residents, including:
- improved physical and mental health for schoolchildren
- reduced cases of dangerous driving, parking and turning
outside schools during school run times
- more children staying active by walking, wheeling or cycling
to school, which in turn reduces traffic in the local area during
school drop off and pick up
- more opportunities for social interactions on the way to
school, and more independence for older pupils
- reduction in emissions around schools
There are already hundreds of School Streets funded across the
country, including more than 180 funded by the government's
Active Travel Fund.
Read the new School
Streets guidance.
Today's guidance also cites research and evidence from the Road
Safety Trust, which shows these schemes increase active travel on
the school run, are supported by most parents and residents in
the nearby community, and do not cause significant road safety
issues through traffic displacement.
It comes after recent research commissioned by Active Travel
England found that 85% of people in England support active travel
and would like to do more, while data from the Bikeability Trust
shows that 4 out of 5 children want to walk or cycle to school.
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:
The majority of kids have told us they want to walk, wheel, scoot
and cycle to school – it's what they want, and it's what we want
for them. It is vital that we give them the opportunity to
bookend their day in the classroom with fresh air and exercise,
helping them build healthy travel habits for life.
Through our new School Streets guidance, we will be able to
better design activity into our neighbourhoods and help make life
happier and healthier for future generations, all while reducing
congestion on the roads during school run times for residents and
businesses – it's win-win for everyone.
Local Transport Minister said:
It's crucial that children are able to enjoy the physical and
mental health benefits that come with walking, cycling or
scooting to schools.
Today's new School Streets guidance will help embed active travel
at the heart of our neighbourhoods, so that children, parents,
and local residents can all benefit from cleaner air, less
congestion, and healthier journeys to school.
Chris Boardman today shared the School Streets guidance with a
global audience at the COP29 climate conference in Baku,
Azerbaijan, where he also outlined ATE's wider work helping councils
to provide environmentally friendly active travel options for
their communities, through targeted investment and expert
training.
