The Walk to School week in May is an annual celebration of the walk to school.
The week encourages pupils to take more active and healthier journeys to and from school.
We take this opportunity to look at some of the best School Streets initiatives around that ensure that these journeys are not only active and healthier but safer and have long term benefit not only to the pupils but also the community and beyond.
Here we ask Annabel Matharu, Sustainable Travel Officer, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council the key questions that you need answered.
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Solihull MBC had run a variety of initiatives over many years to increase the number of families travelling to school by walking, cycling or scooting but with limited success. It was agreed that a different and innovative approach was needed.
Solihull School Streets promotes active travel by creating a predominantly traffic-free zone. Restrictions prevent parents and other road users driving in, out or around an exclusion zone during restriction times. Benefits have been a sharp reduction in the number of children being driven to school and an increase in the number of families travelling actively to school.
Solihull is committed to reducing both congestion and air pollution outside our schools. We also aim to make the environment outside schools safer and more pleasant which in turn should encourage more children and their families to travel to school in a safe and active manner.
Across all sites we have seen an average of 65% reduction in car journeys and a sharp increase in sustainable travel. The scheme also helps the schools to promote their own green travel initiatives and increases their green credentials. Support from neighbouring residents is also high with reports of less congestion outside their own homes.
Enthusiasm and cooperation from schools certainly helps in promoting the scheme. Having a TRO in place and the threat of enforcement and a fine ensures compliance. Also, getting the children onside and fully supporting the aims and targets of the scheme.
School Streets feeds into everything that we do. We are able to offer a full package of initiatives to schools from first starting to school to all the way through secondary school and also for colleges. This will include cycle training, pedestrian training, road safety and air pollution lessons. We also support initiatives such as Walking Busses and Park&Stride schemes.
School Streets is included in Solihull’s Clean Air Strategy and is initiative that we intend to continue rolling out to all schools that we feel would benefit from the scheme.
A good relationship with the schools and local residents.
We have found out that the scheme works particularly well with schools that are situated in a cul-de –sac or who do not have through traffic passing by.
I feel that as it is such an effective way of tackling traffic congestion and pollution around schools that it is around to stay. And with more and more Local Authorities implementing the scheme I believe that in a very short time it will become a very common part of school life around the country.
Sustainable Travel must be at the heart of all planning decisions in the future. In the past ensuring that people can drive quickly and easily to their destination has been a priority therefore encouraging more car travel. The future priority should be focused on walking, cycling and public transport. The more difficult car journeys are made the more we will see a modal shift towards greener travel.
Leaders also need to think carefully how school places are allocated. Currently parents can choose which school they want and, if there are places available, will often be allocated a school much further away therefore relying on a car to get them there.
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The opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the CIHT or its members. Neither the CIHT nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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