School Streets designs are becoming a widely adopted, low-cost and simple intervention to reduce vehicle usage, pollution and road danger around schools. They enable people to walk and cycle to their schools, encourage families to choose active travel, help address the climate emergency and improve community wellbeing.

The first study to look at the global impact of school street schemes shows that over 1100 such schemes now operate in a dozen countries. Most are small, local initiatives that reclaim roads around schools during drop-off and pick-up times by restricting motor traffic. They are usually temporary – but increasingly, many cities want to make them permanent.

A Comparative Analysis: School Street Designs from Around the World

In London, for example, the city built more than 90 school streets during the COVID-19 pandemic – and is planning 80 more this year. In one of the first, in Hackney, tailpipe emissions fell 74 percent and the number of people walking and cycling rose by 30 percent. The scheme also increased the sense of security and well-being for parents. Surveys found that people were significantly more likely to agree that the environment outside their children’s schools was easy to navigate by foot and bicycle.

We support schools applying for open streets to work with their local councils and transport agencies to design and deliver schemes that are appropriate for their context. This includes identifying routes that can offer Park & Stride parking, so people who need to drive can leave their car in the car park and complete the final leg of their journey on foot or by bike.