Reading's first 'school street' safety zone is a success
The council has published the results of a survey and claim the number of children walking to and from school is up 32%
Reading’s first ever School Street has seen nearly one third more children walking to the classroom.
It's five months since the school street was introduced by Park lane School in Tilehurst.
Reading Borough Council say data collected shows that the School Street trial has not only significantly increased levels of active travel for children, parents and carers, but has also made it safer for children when travelling to school.
Evidence gathered in this area during the trial period so far shows the following positive impacts:
- 32% more children walk to/from school
- Car travel amongst parents/carers has decreased by more than half since the School Street started
- In total, 26% of children are now travelling actively, which includes walking, cycling and scooting
- The number of cyclists using Downing Road has increased by 25%
- Traffic on the surrounding road, St Michaels Road, during peak periods has decreased by 8.7%
Feedback from the school community and residents has been very positive. Pupils feel safer when travelling to and from school and residents have noted that traffic has noticeably decreased. Watch the video of school children and staff talking about their School Street here:
Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:
“School Streets not only make travel to schools safer and allow for social distancing, but also create a healthier and more pleasant local environment for everyone living in the vicinity. I’m delighted that the latest data gathered during this trial shows such promising results. I’m heartened to hear 32% more children are walking to school than before the School Street was introduced.
“It is, of course, essential that schools are initiating these proposals and, in so doing, bring the local community on board with any proposals for School Streets in their area. I’m glad that at Park Lane, the indication is the local community are supportive. We will continue to monitor the trial period very closely here and across the other trials taking place across the borough."
Rebecca Brown, Junior Head of School, said:
"Our School Street has been running since April and so far it is running really well. We've seen an increase in children walking to school. We've seen a decrease in cars and pollution on the road outside, and we just generally feel, as a community, that is safer for both the children and for residents.
“We wish to give thanks to the transport planning team at the Council and the local residents and businesses, who continue to give their support to the trial of this project. We would also not have been able to run this trial without the time and dedication from our parent volunteers who are supporting this as marshals in the times the road is restricted. I would definitely encourage other schools to give the trial a go, because for us, it has been really successful.”
Whilst Park Lane Primary was Reading’s first School Street, since its launch in April 2021, two other trials have started at Wilson Primary School and Thameside Primary School in June 2021, with a further School Street due to open on Crescent Road, in east Reading in November 2021, benefiting Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, UTC and Alfred Sutton Primary School.
For more information on School Streets, visit: www.reading.gov.uk/schoolstreets