People-friendly streets connect places and support safer, more active, and healthier travel. They also offer greener, more sociable spaces that enhance wellbeing.
In contrast, most streets outside schools are congested with traffic at drop-off and pick-up times, leading to pollution, unsafe conditions, and an environment that does not encourage active travel for families.
Bradford Council is exploring ways to make journeys to school safer, healthier, and more enjoyable for children and families. One such initiative is to introduce a School Street scheme. This restricts vehicle access near to schools for 30-40 minutes, at times linked to the start and end of the school day, using a Traffic Regulation Order.
As the Council’s research partner, Born in Bradford worked with schools to evaluate the impact of 3 School Street schemes launched in 2023.
Key findings
Half of journeys to school are less than 5 minutes, and one third of these are in cars.
Children are happier when they have safe roads, good pavements, and engaging surroundings.
Children like that School Street schemes elicits a sense of solidarity and community cohesion, a finding not reported before.
Children’s reported active travel decreased in School Street schools; the schools had above average active travel levels and further research is required on School Street schemes in schools with lower rates of active travel.
It is important to ask children about their perceptions as these can can differ from adults.
Recommendations to improve children’s journeys to schools
Improve traffic safety, pavements, and things to see and do near schools to support child wellbeing.
Encourage frequent active travel to school and ensure good air quality to support children’s enjoyment of their trip to school
School Street schemes serve varied purposes so decision-makers should define clear aims, base eligibility on need as well as feasibility, and ensure community engagement and support.
Where School Street schemes aren’t feasible, alternative measures (e.g. traffic calming, walking and cycling infrastructure) and interventions (e.g. cycle training, park and stride) should be provided to promote active travel, wellbeing, and safety; these can also complement School Street schemes.
Listen to children’s ideas to make streets nicer (e.g. more play places, greenery) and easier to actively travel (e.g. fewer parked cars, less traffic, active travel infrastructure).
