Active Travel England and the UK Department for Transport have published new guidelines outlining how school runs can become safer, greener and healthier.
The School Streets scheme temporarily allows vehicles with a permit to pick up and drop off outside schools at specific times. This creates safer spaces for children to walk or cycle to school, benefitting their physical and mental health, reducing vehicle emissions and improving road safety during school times.
Research from the Road Safety Trust has highlighted that car-free schemes such as School Streets are supported by most parents and the wider community, and do not cause significant disruption to surrounding areas.
Chris Boardman, National Active Travel Commissioner, 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.
Simon Lightwood, 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.
Across the UK, hundreds of School Streets schemes are already in action, with 180 funded by the Active Travel Fund.
