The attached report, which will go before city councillors on Tuesday, August 30, provides an evaluation of the School Streets pilot project.

The project aims to reduce the amount of traffic on streets outside or around primary school entrances for periods at the beginning and end of the school day, thus creating more attractive conditions for children to walk and/or cycle to and from school. 

The pilot covered nine primary schools and required an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) at each school to facilitate the legal restriction of motor vehicles (with some exemptions) on relevant streets. 

Drivers were made aware of the restrictions at each location through the installation of large signs at all entry points which flash during school-specific operating periods.

The evaluation examines changes to vehicle speeds and volumes, the numbers of children walking and cycling to school, and perceptions of local residents, parents, and other key stakeholders.

The evaluation also fulfils a commitment within the Local Transport Strategy, approved by the Transport and Environment Committee on 3 June 2014, to trial school streets at up to five schools. 

Benefits evidenced through the pilot are lower vehicle speeds on School Streets and peripheral streets surveyed and an overall reduction in net vehicle volumes on the streets surrounding the pilot schools during restriction times. 

Parent and resident perceptions towards the scheme improved, according to the findings of the ‘before’ and ‘after’ surveys, especially with regards to feelings of safety, motorist compliance, problem displacement (vehicles) and inconvenience and difficulties associated with the restrictions. 

The evaluation also indicates that the number of children walking to/from school has increased, whilst those being driven has fallen. Updated selection criteria are presented, and subject to Committee approval, School Streets will be formally embedded within the suite of School Travel Plan options available to schools. 

By having a range of travel plan options available to schools, this helps the local school community to tailor the most appropriate solution towards helping reduce congestion and its associated risks outside of schools, whilst creating environments more conducive to encouraging travel to school by foot and by bike. What has been made clear through the pilot, however, is that part-time restrictions to motor vehicles are not appropriate for many school locations, due to their inherent road layouts.