“Vital” that children have access to safer streets

Healthy Streets Officers are making great strides towards a car-free school run by supporting the delivery of School Streets across London, according to Sustrans.

TfL and Sustrans have been working in partnership with local authorities since 2019 to deliver the Healthy Streets Officers programme.

The programme focuses on helping children and families walk, wheel, scoot and cycle in 32 of the city’s 33 boroughs.

As part of this work, Healthy Streets Officers help boroughs to organise School Streets.

School Streets tackle the congestion, poor air quality and road safety concerns that many schools experience by restricting motor traffic at the school gates for a short period of time, generally at drop-off and pick-up times.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were 76 School Streets in London. It is now estimated there are 456.

Meanwhile, an additional 107 have been planned or confirmed, bringing the total number to 563.

Sustrans says Healthy Streets Officers have supported the implementation of over half these schemes, approximately 300.

Jo Chattoo, Sustrans’ head of healthy streets, said: “We are thrilled to have helped to create such a huge uplift in the number of School Streets in London.

“It is vital that children have access to safer streets, providing healthy, active options for getting to school.

“London’s children already experience pollution levels above World Health Organisation recommended limits.

“The health advantages of using active travel resonate through a lifetime, and the capital’s children are starting the habit early.”

The Healthy Streets Officers also help schools to implement ‘switchable trips’ – switching car travel for active travel, which includes walking, cycling, scooting and wheeling.

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