The School Street at Gayhurst School before the pandemic

School Streets at 41 primary schools in Hackney are set to restart next week to support children to walk and cycle, improve road safety and promote social distancing at the school gates, as students begin their phased return to school. 

All but nine of the School Streets, which close roads outside school gates at school opening and closing times, were introduced last year on a trial basis under the Council’s plans to rebuild a greener Hackney in the wake of the pandemic. 

They are aimed at supporting the 90% of children in Hackney who walk, cycle or take public transport to school to do so safely, and encourage more parents to make the switch to healthier, more active modes of transport. 

While roads inside School Streets zones are closed during the schemes' hours of operation, certain groups, such as residents and emergency services, are eligible for an exemption. 

School Streets are proven at reducing pollution at the school gates - initial results from our pilot School Streets show a 74% reduction in tailpipe emissions on those streets.

Parents and staff from each school, and residents and businesses around each School Street implemented last year can have their say online or in writing as schemes are implemented, with comments taken into account before any decision is made on whether or not to make them permanent.