School Streets Designs Toolkit

School streets designs are rapidly gaining in popularity and are a proven, low-cost way to reduce motor traffic outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times. By restricting motor traffic to a small section of road outside a school and making it safe for walking and cycling, these street redesigns increase active travel to school, decrease air pollution, and create more space for children to play safely on the roads. URL https://school-streets.co.uk/

In London, where the concept originated, most of the 350+ School Streets are operated on a car-free basis during drop-off and pick-up, although they often allow some exempt vehicles to pass through at walking pace. These streets are used to encourage more children and parents to walk, cycle or scoot to school – reducing exposure to air pollution in the school environment, improving health and wellbeing, and helping to alleviate congestion on surrounding roads.

Sustainable School Street Design: Paving the Way for Greener Communities

The success of the London School Streets program has inspired cities and towns around the world to implement their own. This toolkit aims to make it easier for local authorities and schools to develop their own school streets by providing them with the knowledge, expertise and tools they need to get started.

Key to a successful school street is strong community support. Engaging with community members and school staff early and frequently is essential to fostering excitement about the project, ensuring the needs of everyone are taken into account, and addressing any community pushback. This includes educating the wider community about why a school street is needed, how it will be implemented and why it works – and ensuring that this message is reinforced throughout the campaign.