Roads will continue to be closed to cars at school drop-off and pick-up times across 30 of Hackney’s school streets, following a successful pilot scheme.
Hackney Council’s ‘School Streets’ initiative has encouraged more than 13,000 children across the borough to walk, cycle, and scoot to school.
Following the council’s decision to retain the School Street at Harrington Hill, Hackney now has the country’s largest ‘School Streets’ scheme – with 84 per cent of the borough’s primary schools and 15 percent of secondary schools participating in the scheme.
School Streets is the council’s programme to transform roads outside schools by prioritising pedestrians and cyclists at the beginning and end of the school day. The aim is to reduce the number of children travelling to and from school by car to improve air quality and road safety in the borough.
The streets are monitored by CCTV cameras and non-residents driving on the restricted roads face the risk of being fined up to £130. Those who live on the street will not be fined.
In deciding to make the School Streets permanent, the Council considered feedback from residents, polls, and traffic monitoring.
Hackney Council conducted a poll of residents this month and found that more than seven in 10 residents wanted to see at least some of Hackney’s School Streets made permanent.
Councillor Mete Cobain MBE, Cabinet Minister for Energy, Waste, and Public Realm, said: “We’re proud to be leading the way on School Streets, with more in Hackney than anywhere else in the country.
“The results are plain to see at any school: kids walking, cycling, or scooting to school, enjoying clean air, and living more active lives. School Streets are helping to rebuild a greener Hackney for thousands of our borough’s young people.”
In Hackney, initial pilot schemes of School Streets, introduced between 2017 and 2019, helped bring about a 51% increase in cycling to school, a 30% increase in walking, and a 74% reduction in tailpipe emissions.
Hackney mayor, Philip Glanville said compliance with School Streets has improved across the borough, with only 14 percent of fines going to Hackney residents across all London boroughs.
? We’re retaining the 30 trial School Streets we introduced in September 2020.
????? Helping 13,000 kids walk, cycle and scoot to school
?? Reducing toxic air pollution
?Rebuilding a greener HackneyFind out more: https://t.co/71t5wu9scu pic.twitter.com/nMbOBfhT7L
— Hackney Council (@hackneycouncil) March 15, 2022
In total there are 511 School Streets in London, covering a quarter of primary schools. Walking is now the most popular way to get to school, with 58 percent of children in London aged 5-11 opting for this choice, according to Transport for London.
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