New Government guidelines to make school runs happier, healthier and greener

The UK government has introduced new guidelines to make school runs healthier, safer, and more environmentally friendly. Published by Active Travel England and the Department for Transport (DfT), the guidance focuses on implementing School Streets schemes which restrict motor vehicle access near school gates during drop-off and pick-up times unless a permit is held. These measures encourage walking, cycling, scooting or wheeling to school, reducing traffic congestion and emissions while promoting active lifestyles for children.

Key benefits include:

• Safer roads around schools with reduced dangerous driving and parking.
• Improved physical and mental health for children.
• Increased independence and social interactions for students.
• Decreased local traffic and emissions during school hours.

Pindar Creative can help you promote your School Streets schemes by creating tailored mapping to highlight key features of School Streets, including restricted zones, walking and cycling routes, and park-and-stride areas. Helping schools, parents, and local communities easily understand and adopt the new travel arrangements. Take a look at the School Streets maps developed for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council which have been rolled out across eight schools across the borough.

If you are targeting multiple schools, consider using our innovative make-your-own map platform (SALI), which allows you to design personalised, site-specific maps for each school via our online portal. Users can tailor the maps with the site name, walking routes, isochrones to show walking times (or parking exclusion zones), and drag-and-drop icons to show permanent or pop-up infrastructure, such as cycle lanes and cycle parking. The leaflets can help schools deliver guidance on pavement parking, voluntary parking exclusion zones, drop-off and pick-up information, School Streets schemes and Park and Stride sites.

Are you planning a School Streets scheme in your area? Get in touch with Pindar Creative to discuss your project.