Schools Streets
School Streets schemes aim to transform roads outside schools, so that pedestrians and cyclists can use them at school start and finish times. Removing vehicles outside the school gates makes the space safer, less polluted and more pleasant, making it easier and safer to walk and cycle to school. They create a more pleasant environment for everyone, whilst making sure that residents, businesses, pedestrians and cyclists can still use the road.
Main aims of School Streets schemes:
- Reduce volume of traffic using roads past school gates, both school-run and through traffic;
- Improve air quality in and around school gates;
- Increase number of pupils walking and cycling to school; and
- Reduce the number of pupils arriving at school by car
How School Streets work:
The streets around a school temporarily become ‘pedestrian and cycles’ only at set times in the morning and afternoon. Vehicles are not permitted to enter the street between these times unless they have been granted an exemption, although some schemes block the road all together restricting all traffic movements.
Training:
Modeshift, in partnership with Hackney Council have created the ‘Developing and Implementing School Streets’ training course. This course is designed for anyone who is interested in developing a School Streets scheme in their area. The course takes delegates through the key components of implementing a scheme including; the process of selecting suitable schools; discussing methods of schools selection; techniques and methods for implementing schemes; and evaluating and monitoring School Streets schemes.
For more details about this course or further enquiries please email events@modeshift.org.uk
Hackney School Streets Toolkit:
Hackney Council have produced a free School Streets toolkit which can be accessed from the following link – Hackney School Streets toolkit
The toolkit provides a guide for transport practitioners and schools in developing School Streets schemes in their areas. It provides best practice from schemes across England and Scotland, including the London Boroughs of Hackney and Camden, Solihull and Edinburgh. It is based on the experiences of teachers, pupils, parents and transport professionals and has been designed to provide a step-by-step guide through the process of setting up a School Streets scheme, which can also be tailored to your local circumstances.
