Traffic restriction schemes outside schools are helping more children walk, cycle and scoot to school, according to a major new UK-wide study.
Creative Installation as part of School Street in a Day event (5 December)
Traffic restriction schemes outside schools are helping more children walk, cycle and scoot to school, according to a major new UK-wide study involving researchers from the University of Birmingham.
Published today in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, the research analysed data from almost 500 primary schools across England and Scotland and found that school street schemes are associated with a 6% increase in active commuting. The proportion of children travelling exclusively by private car fell by 5%, with no reduction in public transport use.
The study was led by researchers at the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, working in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Exeter and Edinburgh Napier, alongside the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
School street schemes restrict motor vehicle access outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times, aiming to reduce congestion, improve air quality and create safer spaces for families. While these schemes have expanded rapidly across the UK, this study represents the first robust national evaluation of their effectiveness.
Using routinely collected “Hands-Up” Survey data, researchers compared 166 state primary schools operating school street schemes with matched control schools of similar size, location, deprivation level and baseline travel patterns.
All forms of active travel increased, including walking, cycling, scooting and skating. The largest increase was seen in “park and stride”, where families drive part of the journey and walk the final section, often for more than 150 metres.
Importantly, the researchers found no differences in impact by geography, deprivation level or enforcement method, including whether cameras were used.
While the overall impact was positive, the effectiveness of schemes varied considerably between schools. In some cases, active travel increased by as much as 40%.
The researchers suggest this variation may reflect differences in local leadership, how schemes are implemented, complementary initiatives, and wider political and community contexts.
This is the first large-scale national study to show that these closures are broadly successful. While schemes can sometimes divide communities, people tend to value children’s health and safety. Our findings can help local authorities make the case for policies that reduce car use around schools.
Alongside the national research, University of Birmingham researchers are working directly with schools and children to ensure young people’s voices shape future transport policy.
On Friday 5 December, pupils at The Oval School in Birmingham took part in a creative dissemination event, School Street in a Day, delivered as part of the NIHR-funded project on traffic restriction schemes outside primary schools.
Led by Professor Sophie Hadfield-Hill from the University of Birmingham, the event brought together researchers, teachers, University of Birmingham students, artist Matthew Shaw, and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Around 600 pupils collaborated to build creative models and installations, sharing their ideas on how school streets could be improved.
Representatives from Birmingham City Council’s active travel team attended the event to hear directly from children about their experiences. The outputs and recommendations from the day will be taken forward to a policy event in January 2026, with opportunities for children’s perspectives to inform school street planning across Birmingham and beyond.
Working with children who experience school streets every day allows us to understand what really works on the ground. Their ideas and creativity are essential if we want schemes that are inclusive, effective and supported by local communities.
The study was funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research, with researchers supported by the Medical Research Council. Its findings provide strong evidence that school street schemes can support healthier, safer and more sustainable school travel when implemented in appropriate contexts.
Children want to travel actively, but busy roads are a major barrier. This national study clearly shows that school streets work – reducing congestion, improving safety and benefiting both health and the environment
Professor of Human Geography
Principally a Children's Geographer, Sophie's expertise is children and young people's everyday experiences of urban change in diverse contexts.
