A School Street is where the roads leading to school gates are closed to most vehicles for a short period at the start and end of the school day, during term time only.
Closing them to school and other traffic:
- makes the area safer and nicer for everyone
- is good for people walking or cycling
- keeps access for vehicles registered to residents and businesses living in the zone
A School Street is operational during term time only, as shown on the dates on our website. They still operate on individual school INSET and occasional days.
Why do we have School Streets?
One quarter of London's morning peak hour traffic is made up of families on the school run.
Our school census data shows that 86% of primary school-aged children live within one mile of their school, which is around a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute bicycle ride.
In Ealing Council, more than a third of Year 6 children are overweight or obese. That’s why it’s really important for children to move more, especially on the way to school.
Public Health England say children should do at least 60 minutes of exercise every day.
Walking, cycling or scooting to school is a great way to help reach that goal. School Streets allow more children to choose active travel for their school journey. We are working to deliver School Streets at suitable schools which will:
- make active travel easier and safer
- improve air quality by reducing congestion outside schools at peak times
- provide a low traffic area
- make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to use the road space
- support families to use active modes of transport to increase their physical activity and improve health
It will also help more children get to school safely, especially older children who walk on their own and might worry about busy roads and lots of cars near the school gates.
How will School Streets increase active travel?
School Street schools are supported by the council’s school travel to encourage walking, scooting and cycling for the school journey. This will help to reduce car use, congestion and air pollution around their school to improve safety and health.
Schools are encouraged to support families to use active modes of transport to increase their physical activity and improve health by organising TfL Travel for Life activities
What have we done so far
Our first School Street started in September 2020 at Perivale Primary and St John Fisher Catholic School.
We worked with the schools and local people for 18 months to plan it. Nearly 80% of people said they thought it was a good idea.
School Streets were also used to help during COVID. The government said walking or cycling to school was a good way to stay safe and healthy.
In November 2020, 11 more School Streets were set up as part of Transport for London's (TfL) London Streetspace Programme (LSP)
Since then, more School Streets have been added across Ealing.
School Streets map
The School Streets map shows where the schemes are. You can zoom in to dins details about each one includng the areas for walking and cycling only.
How will we know if it is working?
We will know that the scheme has been a success when:
- more children are walking, biking or using eco-friendly ways to get to school
- children that are already walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school will feel safer
We usually do a traffic survey before the School Street starts, and about six months after to help us see if the plan is working.. A good School Street means there will be less cars near the school gate, but it should not cause more traffic in other nearby streets.
Reducing the number of motor vehicles around the school gates will help to improve air quality for the whole community..
What is the decision on the future of the School Streets?
The council plan 2022-26 sets Ealing Council’s vision and strategy. It presents the priorities and actions the council will be taking, including a commitment to deliver School Streets at 50 of the borough’s schools.
Who is paying for this?
Our transport strategy funding is provided by Transport for London.
To fund and deliver the School Streets programme for future years we will continue to fund the Ealing School Streets programme from TfL's Local Implementation Plan (LIP) and other sources as they become available. This includes funding from School Streets Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
All surplus PCN income, once the operational costs have been met, will be spent on highway improvement projects. This is a rule set by the government in a law called the Traffic Management Act 2004
For more information, email the school travel team on schoolstreets@ealing.gov.uk
