A “School Street” is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times. These zones are created by a city bylaw and encourage safer travel to school and a healthier lifestyle. Below are four advantages for cities which implement this scheme.

Make roads outside schools safer

Traffic outside schools is often heavy at drop-off and pick-up times. Turning a street into a pedestrian zone, by restricting motorised traffic access, makes these areas safer, reassures parents, and encourages children to become more independent in their travel to and from school.

Reduce air pollution

Studies have revealed that reducing motorised traffic outside schools has a positive impact on local air quality. Nitrogen oxide, which is mainly emitted by road traffic, creates air pollution which directly affects children’s health, especially their respiratory health.

Encourage physical activity

School Streets encourage gentle, active travel such as walking or cycling to school instead of driving. This is beneficial to both children and parents, whose physical activity levels are globally deficient.

Create social ties outside school

This scheme was launched in Belgium before being applied in the UK and Spain. It is starting to be introduced in major French cities (Paris, Lyon, and Lille, etc.) and in medium-sized cities. School Streets also have the advantage of making conversation easier between parents outside schools, which is to be praised in times where social interaction in cities is often complicated.

All that needs to be done now is to support local councils by providing the tools to facilitate setting up these schemes.

To go further :
  • Example : https://www.lagazettedescommunes.com/739406/les-rues-scolaires-un-concept-aux-resultats-encourageants/
  • Wikipedia : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rue_scolaire

Article updated on 09/11/22