Moving from trials to a permanent School Street - Southampton City Council
Published 19 November 2024
Applies to England
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Background
St Mary’s C of E Primary School is located to the east of Southampton City Centre in an area of higher deprivation. Southampton City Council has worked with the school on encouraging pupils and staff to walk, cycle and scoot to school.
What they did
In March 2019, the school took part in Sustrans’ Big Pedal School Street event, as one of four in Southampton and alongside over 40 schools across the UK. St Mary’s was chosen as a legacy school for further School Street trials due to support from the Council, engagement with Sustrans officers and overwhelmingly positive survey responses from parents and residents.
Following the success of three one-day trial road closures, a permanent School Street scheme for St Mary’s was installed in 2020. The street also benefited from infrastructure improvements, with residential access being redesigned in response to safety concerns.
Results / what happens next
A year after the scheme started, the number of pupils walking, cycling and scooting to school had risen from 60% to 83% of journeys. Traffic volumes and speeds had fallen, emissions of nitrogen dioxide had reduced and there was a substantial increase in the number of parents and residents that felt the street was safer to use.
The success of the scheme has been underpinned by St Mary’s involvement in Southampton City Council’s My Journey programme which works with schools, workplaces and in the community to encourage the use of active and sustainable travel modes.
The school has engaged well with the Sustrans’ ‘Bike It’ project and the council’s school travel planning team. It has encouraged pupils, staff and parents to cycle, scoot or walk to school whilst leaving the car at home. Pupils have, for example, had the opportunity to learn scooter and cycling skills, take part in a bike club and develop a five-minute walking zone map. As a result of its commitment to active travel, the school has achieved a Modeshift STARS award for sustainable travel.