The School Streets scheme aims to make walking the “first choice of travel to school for even more Londoners”
Motorists will be banned from 200 more roads outside schools during specific hours under proposals to encourage walking across the capital. Transport for London (TfL) announced that the measure, aimed for full rollout by 2030, aims to establish walking as the “first choice of travel to school for even more Londoners”.
The scheme will see 200 roads designated as School Streets, which have restrictions on vehicles at school drop-off and pick-up times. More than 800 roads throughout the capital held this designation by the end of April last year, according to TfL figures.
The transport authority said School Streets help “improve air quality and reduce road danger by reducing motor traffic and providing additional space”.
Establishing a School Street in London falls under the remit of the capital’s individual boroughs. During 2024, TfL supplied each borough with information demonstrating the degree of appropriateness and requirement for a School Street outside every primary and secondary school, plus nursery, within their areas.
TfL’s walking and wheeling action plan also outlined an objective of installing 1,000 fresh zebra or signalised pedestrian crossings by 2031. Every new signalised crossing will incorporate pedestrian countdown timers.
Additional crossings – especially those situated outside schools – are being configured to display a green man signal instantly following button activation, provided it hasn’t been pressed within the previous 30 seconds. Currently 472 crossings operate under this status while 18 exhibit a constant green signal for pedestrians until an approaching vehicle is detected. Zebra crossings on side roads at junctions will also be piloted along TfL’s major routes.
The scheme is designed to support Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan’s goal for 80 per cent of journeys across the capital to be completed on foot, by bicycle, or via public transport by 2041.
Christina Calderato, director of transport strategy at TfL, said: “Walking is already at the heart of how Londoners get around, but we know too many people are still put off by safety concerns, poor crossings or inaccessible streets. This new plan sets out how we’ll change that by making it easier and more pleasant to walk for everyday journeys, whether that’s getting to school, the station or the local high street.”
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “The mayor and I are determined to make walking the safest, easiest and most enjoyable way of getting around London. This new plan will help us drive further progress in cleaning up our air and tackling congestion.”
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