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ICYM this exceptionally good @thetimes writeup yesterday of our new report with @MumsForLungs on the potential benefits of a national #SchoolStreets rollout (where roads with schools are closed to motor traffic during drop off and pickup)
A thread...
1/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-miss-out-on-traffic-bans-because-council-lack-power-xvmlbkfx6
A thread...
1/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-miss-out-on-traffic-bans-because-council-lack-power-xvmlbkfx6
The basic problems which School Streets are intended to tackle are well understood. Principal among these is dangerously high air pollution in our cities, which hits kids hardest: “the consequences for children’s health can be severe, long term and even fatal”
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“Children are exposed to levels of NO2 5x higher when travelling to school in the morning than while at school.” Likewise, on average 16 child pedestrians are killed or seriously injured by motor vehicles during school run hours each week in the UK.
https://www.pacts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/PACTS-What-kills-most-on-the-roads-Report-13.0.pdf
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https://www.pacts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/PACTS-What-kills-most-on-the-roads-Report-13.0.pdf
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This creates a vicious circle, whereby parents see traffic makes the streets too dangerous and unpleasant to walk or cycle to school, so they drive their kids instead - making the problem worse. School run journeys now make up over 1/5 rush hour car trips in England’s cities
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Ultimately there is just *too much motor traffic* on our roads, making the public realm hazardous for everyone, including those behind the wheel (pollution can be highest *inside* cars). How can we short circuit this vicious circle, whereby traffic begets ever more traffic?
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School Streets are a PERFECT first step: they’re quick, they’re cheap, they’re popular and they target protection where it is most needed - outside the school gates. Happily, our research finds that around half of all schools in England’s towns and cities are suitable!
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We found that following #SchoolStreets being pioneered by @CamdenCouncil & @hackneycouncil pre-covid, @londoncouncils led the way during the pandemic, with over 400 school streets already in place across the capital and another 50+ in development.
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This is mainly because London has a key advantage over other regions: its local authorities have powers to enforce #SchoolStreets (as well as other traffic management measures) using cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Outside London, this is not an option
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This leaves schools in other cities to enforce their School Streets with mish-mash of ad hoc temporary barriers like cones and banners, with either volunteer parents, or teaching or council staff hoiking this stuff across the road twice a day
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Or alternatively, just relying on signage and goodwill. Which has, ahem, very mixed results
(See e.g.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/school_street_pilots) 10/
(See e.g.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/school_street_pilots) 10/
The good news is that @grantshapps promised last year to ‘enable effective enforcement of school streets outside London, by giving local authorities the powers in part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.’ when he published the (excellent) Gear Change https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf
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The bad news is that @transportgovuk appear to have made no progress on this since then, and refuse to commit to a legislative timetable for making the changes, saying only that they’ll happen “shortly” or “in due course” https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-12-03/debates/508957A2-D706-41FB-97D3-83496812F240/WalkingAndCycling#contribution-9523292F-3879-4D9B-8589-E9D119638DC6
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It’s frustrating because #SchoolStreets are poised for a national rollout, with potential to improve the lives - & life chances - of millions of children. But as we note in the report, this needs to be just the beginning of reclaiming our towns and cities from traffic blight
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The benefits of #SchoolStreets can be greatly amplified by inclusion in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and can pave the way for wider, more transformative measures such as Clean Air Zones and ultimately a pay-per-mile Eco Levy
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SO parents, teachers, councillors - why not get started right away, by assessing your local school/s for suitability for a #SchoolStreets treatment, using this handy decision tree (which is a simplified version of the methodology used in the report)?
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And if this thread has made you want to read the full report, you can find it here: http://wearepossible.org/school-streets
Finally - HUGE thanks to @MumsForLungs @Active_ATA @TfQL2Pagers @Jemima_Vivien @RachelAldred @asathomas @LynnSloman @SeahorseEnv for all your heroic work on this
ENDS/
Finally - HUGE thanks to @MumsForLungs @Active_ATA @TfQL2Pagers @Jemima_Vivien @RachelAldred @asathomas @LynnSloman @SeahorseEnv for all your heroic work on this
ENDS/
