More London roads outside schools to close to traffic at key times

Transport for London has announced plans to introduce vehicle restrictions on a further 200 roads outside schools as part of a wider effort to encourage more people to walk across the capital.

The proposals, which TfL hopes to fully deliver by 2030, are intended to make walking the “first choice of travel to school for even more Londoners”.

Under the programme, an additional 200 roads will become designated School Streets, where vehicle access is restricted during school drop-off and pick-up periods. TfL figures show that more than 800 roads across London already operated under the scheme by the end of April last year.

TfL said the School Streets initiative helps “improve air quality and reduce road danger by reducing motor traffic and providing additional space”.

Responsibility for introducing School Streets lies with London’s individual borough councils. During 2024, TfL provided boroughs with data assessing the suitability and potential need for School Streets outside every nursery, primary and secondary school in their areas.

The authority’s latest walking and wheeling action plan also includes a target to deliver 1,000 new zebra or signal-controlled pedestrian crossings by 2031. All newly installed signalised crossings will feature pedestrian countdown timers.

TfL said some new crossings, particularly those near schools, are being designed so the green man signal appears immediately after the button is pressed, provided it has not already been activated within the previous 30 seconds. At present, 472 crossings use this system, while 18 crossings permanently display a green signal for pedestrians until vehicles are detected approaching.

The transport authority also plans to trial zebra crossings on side roads at junctions along its red route network.

The measures form part of the wider ambitions of Sadiq Khan, who wants 80 per cent of journeys in London to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041.

Christina Calderato, director of transport strategy at TfL, said: “Walking is already at the heart of how Londoners get around, but we know too many people are still put off by safety concerns, poor crossings or inaccessible streets. This new plan sets out how we’ll change that by making it easier and more pleasant to walk for everyday journeys, whether that’s getting to school, the station or the local high street.”

Will Norman added: “The mayor and I are determined to make walking the safest, easiest and most enjoyable way of getting around London. This new plan will help us drive further progress in cleaning up our air and tackling congestion.”