New UK-wide research into School Streets by the University of Cambridge, including data from our projects, found they increase the amount of children actively travelling to school, and decrease journeys in cars.
The research showed that schools with School Streets schemes had clear increases across the UK. Credit: Brian Morrison Photography
In the first large-scale, national study of School Streets, researchers found that traffic restrictions outside schools and other similar schemes led to an average 6% increase in children walking, wheeling cycling, scooting and skating to schools.
In some schools active travel increased by up to 40% following School Streets.
At the same time, the proportion of children travelling to school only by private motor vehicle decreased by a corresponding 5%.
The study used routinely collected data from nearly 500 schools across the UK, including many of our projects, to analyse the effectiveness of the schemes.
It was led by researchers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, in partnership with the Universities of Cambridge, Exeter, Birmingham and Edinburgh Napier.
Researchers hope that the study will help local authorities make the case for more work to reduce car use around schools.
Effectiveness and equity impacts of traffic restriction schemes outside schools: a controlled natural experimental study
6%
average increase in children walking, wheeling cycling, scooting and skating to school in School Street schemes
5%
average decrease in children travelling to school only by private motor vehicle, in School Streets schemes
Professor Jenna Panter of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, who was senior author on this paper, said:
“This is the first large-scale national study to find that these closures are broadly successful.
“Our findings support the creation of schemes in areas where this is feasible.”
Andy Cope, our director of evidence and insight, said:
“This national study clearly demonstrates that School Streets are effective at increasing active, healthier ways of getting to school.
“It sends a clear message to governments to continue to roll out School Street restrictions across the country, and to help improve safety on the roads around schools.
“Helping children get active on their commutes is fantastic for health and wellness, creates a safer neighbourhood, and protects our environment too.”
Walking, wheeling cycling, scooting and skating all count as active travel. Credit: Mark Radford/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
There are now hundreds of School Streets projects across the UK, which are run by local authorities, community groups, and our team.
They aim to create a safe space for families to get to school and to relieve pressure around drop-off and pick-up times by restricting access to motor traffic outside schools at those times.
The researchers identified 166 eligible state primary schools operating schemes.
Each of these schools was matched to two similar control schools over the same period of time, based on school size, local deprivation, urban or rural status, nation, and baseline levels of active commuting.
Any changes in levels of active commuting before and after a scheme was implemented were compared between schools with schemes and schools without.
The greatest increase in active travel among children was in “park and stride”, where families drive for part of the journey and walk for the rest.
The research found no difference in the effects of schemes based on geographic location, local deprivation levels, or the presence of cameras to enforce the restrictions.
The study suggested that reasons for success in some schools could be related to how schemes were implemented, the strength of school leadership, local interventions such as low traffic neighbourhoods, and local government support.
The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Public Health Research. Professor Jenna Panter, Professor David Ogilvie, Dr Esther van Sluijs and Dr Richard Patterson were supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC).
