Active Travel England (ATE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have published guidance that provides recommendations for councils to enhance the implementation of School Street schemes.

The National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, launched the new guidance today at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

On a street where the School Street scheme is active, motor vehicles are only permitted to access the street during pick-up and drop-off hours. This enhances road safety and makes it safer for children and their families to ride bikes, walk, wheel, or scoot to school.

Some of the benefits that this will bring to communities include:

• Improved physical and mental health
• Reduced cases of dangerous driving, parking, and turning outside schools
• More children staying active by using active travel to get to school
• More opportunities for social interactions on the way to school
• Reduced carbon emissions around schools

This guidance aims to further progress towards the objectives outlined in the second 'Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy', working towards the goal of increasing the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 who typically walk to school, from 49% in 2014 to 55% by 2025.

The new Active Travel England guidance is available to read here. 

CIHT welcomes the publication of the guidance and emphasises the significance of stakeholder engagement during the development of School Streets, as outlined in our response to government’s draft statutory guidance on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods.

CIHT's response to Low Traffic Neighbourhood Guidance is available here.

CIHT reiterates that an enhanced focus on accessibility in scheme design is essential, for example by providing exemption to the school street restrictions for Blue Badge holders. Additionally, CIHT emphasises the importance of an inclusive approach and providing more detailed information on the rationale and objectives of the scheme which would assist local authorities in effectively communicating the advantages and disadvantages of the scheme to residents.

CIHT looks forward to engaging with Active Travel England (ATE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) to enable the delivery of better transport networks, that work for all. 

by Liberty Hibberd, Public Affairs Manager