School Streets to shape child-friendly cities - What are ‘School Streets’ and why do they matter?

1 Key figures and benefits of School Streets Reduction in car travel: According to a TfL study on the impacts of School Streets in London, parents report driving less by car to school, (an 18% reduction).3 A similar study in Oxford on School Streets showed a 22% reduction. [...] In Brent, Enfield and Lambeth in the UK, School Streets led to an impressive 23% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution.12 In the Flemish Region of Belgium, NO2 levels around School Streets were reduced by around 20%.13 Similarly, a study of London schools found that a School Street reduced outdoor particle concentrations by up to 36%.14 More active travel: School streets encourage walking. [...] In London, 27% of parents reported walking more and 6% reported cycling more as a consequence of School Streets.15 In Flemish School Streets, 3% more cyclists have been counted throughout the day, compared to before their introduction.16 In nine School Streets evaluated in Oxfordshire, active travel increased by 6.3%.17 In Hackney, London, the number of children cycling to school increased by 51%. [...] Likewise, a survey carried out among residents of five European major cities by Kantar Public on behalf of the Clean Cities Campaign revealed that an average of 71% of residents supports the creation of School Streets.23 2 In a nutshell, School Streets support child-friendly cities in the following ways: ▶ School Streets have a positive effect on traffic ▶ School Streets can help children form hea. [...] School Streets need to be coupled with a programme to increase the safety and ease of journeys to and from school by bike, on foot or with public transport.