New School Streets to be created in Manchester with the total number increasing to 60 - here's what we know
The number of School Streets in Greater Manchester will increase to 60 within the next year in an effort to boost the number of children walking and cycling to school.
Last year, Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey and Mayor Andy Burnham spoke to schools across the city and invited them to develop their own ‘School Street’ to hopefully limit traffic during pick ups and drop offs.
The Mayor and Dame Sarah Storey have a goal to get 100 School Streets by 2028.
£1.3m of active travel funding has been allocated for the delivery of School Streets in Greater Manchester.
All 10 Local Authorities requested funding to deliver new schemes, with the number of schemes in operation to increase from 37 to 60 within the next year.
Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey said: “We are taking the necessary steps to make it safe for children to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle to school in Greater Manchester. This should be a fun time of day for them where they can let off steam before starting the school day or one their way home.”
She said: “I’m pleased that we have had such a strong response to our initial call for expressions of interest for School Streets last Autumn and am looking forward to seeing as many of those as possible having a suitable solution found. Good progress is being made and I expect this to now accelerate so that by July 2026 and the end of the next academic year, the number of School Streets in operation will have increased to 60.”
Adding: “As part of that work I am also keen to learn how we can really strengthen the collaboration between schools and their communities by using their School Street as a catalyst for change, as well as exploring enforcement solutions that enables each scheme to run without the need for volunteers, across a range of different locations.”
Transport for Greater Manchester said: “research shows just half of Greater Manchester’s residents feel it is safe for children to walk to school and just 42% believe it is safe for children to cycle to school. A School Street consists of a range of measures outside to limit traffic during drop off and pick up time and create a pleasant child-friendly environment when the school gate is busiest.”
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport for Manchester City Council, said: "School Streets have been a transformative initiative, helping to change the way we think about the morning school run, and children tell us first hand of the positive difference it's making so they are going into school feeling less anxious and happier.”
Adding: "Whether using a bike, a scooter or simply walking we want to make sure that our roads are safe for youngsters. This is why the high interest in this project is so encouraging to see, and one we look forward to helping roll out more widely."