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TfL urges children to walk, cycle and scoot to school to help children safely return to the classroom

Plans include additional buses and dedicated school services, a range of Streetspace measures and a comprehensive communication and engagement programme to inform schools, parents and pupils about the new plans

As millions of Londoners return to education next month, TfL) is proposing to introduce new measures that will help them travel safely and sustainably.

The plans build on the extensive cleaning regime deployed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which includes hospital-grade long-lasting disinfectant, and include an additional 200 buses on key routes and traffic reduction near 415 schools to make active journeys to school safer and easier.

Those who are able to walk, cycle or scoot to school are being encouraged to do so, with TfL's world-leading Streetspace programme making this easier and safer than ever before.

More than £3m has been invested to date in 415 School Street schemes, across 26 boroughs, making active journeys to school safer and easier by limiting car access to school gates at drop off and pick-up times.

Some 22 School Street schemes have been delivered through the Streetspace programme so far, with many more due for completion in the coming weeks.

It is vital that the schemes being delivered as part of the Streetspace plan are accessible to all. To ensure this, those that need access, including local businesses and blue badge holders, can apply for exemptions that grant them access to School Streets during their hours of operation.

Encouraging active travel

TfL has worked closely with schools, London's boroughs and the Government to prepare for the significant additional demand on a public transport network where capacity is reduced owing to social distancing measures.

More than 3,000 schools have been advised on encouraging active travel and staggered start and end times, with bespoke plans for those schools served by the busiest bus routes for school travel.

A new dedicated webpage for education providers gives the latest advice and useful resources for schools to encourage safe and sustainable travel among their pupils.

Buses, as the most common transport mode for schoolchildren, are likely to see the biggest increase in demand in September.

Plans include dedicating a number of buses for school travel on those high-frequency routes that TfL has forecasted to be the busiest.  These services will be clearly signed, and information will be posted at bus stops and online.

TfL is also planning to add more than 200 extra dedicated school buses onto some of the busiest low-frequency bus routes, including its existing school services.

These planned measures have been prioritised for those routes on which students travel longer distances, with funding coming through an additional £5.8m grant from the Department for Education.

Changing travel patterns

Government guidance allows for all available seats to be occupied on dedicated school services, increasing the capacity of these buses. This maximises the number of people TfL can move per half hour and helps free up non-school buses for other customers.

However, as this September will be even more challenging than others for the first few weeks, other people do need to allow more time for their journeys if they are travelling by bus during the school travel times as they may have to wait longer for a bus.

Those customers using buses and other modes of public transport are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance, travelling off peak where they can.

TfL's trial of 24-hour bus lanes on its own roads, due to start in the coming weeks, will support changing travel patterns and staggered school hours, helping to maximise capacity and support social distancing, keep bus journey times consistent throughout the day, and reduce crowding at bus stops.

Cycle routes and more cycle parking are being created to facilitate cycling, while a new online Cycle Skills course for new and existing cyclists recently launched, with a module targeted at children.

A £2m grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) will allow local authorities across London to deliver cycle training from August onwards.

Claire Mann, TfL's Director of Bus Operations, said: 'Safety is always our priority, which is why we have our extensive cleaning regime that's making our buses and Tubes cleaner than ever.

'As demand is set to grow further with the new academic term, it's vital that we build on our existing measures, such as our Streetspace initiatives, providing pupils and parents with the means to travel safely and an alternative to car use, which would lead to high levels of congestion and pollution.

'Londoners have been truly amazing in recent months in their commitment in following safety guidance, both for their own safety and that of their fellow passengers.

'We're now asking you to walk, cycle or scoot to school where you can as part of this joint effort, and continue to follow these rules as the situation evolves. Everyone else should travel during the quieter times of the day where possible to ensure everyone can travel safely.'

Safe and sustainable

Parents and pupils over the age of 11 must continue to wear a face covering on public transport unless an exemption applies. Face coverings must be worn for the duration of a journey and cover both the mouth and nose.

Social distancing guidelines must also be followed, and customers are asked to continue to wash or sanitise their hands before and after travel and to respect their fellow passengers and staff.

The measures support London's safe and sustainable recovery from the pandemic, encouraging pupils and parents to walk, cycle or use public transport to and from school rather than travel by car.

This will help avoid a car-led recovery that would increase pollution and could see one public health crisis replaced with another.

Previous TfL research has shown that walking or cycling to school could take 254,000 cars off London's roads each day, significantly reducing congestion and pollution.

A multimedia campaign will support the measures, including 'Active Travel movement' posters to get Londoners to consider walking and cycling, TV, video, on-demand and social media adverts, digital outdoor advertising, online and in the media.

Notes to Editors:

  • More information about face coverings and exemptions is available at https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/face-coverings
  • The dedicated webpage for education providers is available at: tfl.gov.uk/reopeningeducation
  • There are no changes to free travel for children and young people in September. TfL continues to work with Government on how and when any suspension of free travel for Under 18s could take effect
  • From 24 August all pupils starting secondary school can use TfL's new STARS Safer Journey Planner (SSJP)  to plan the best walking and cycle routes, as well as locate the nearest bus stops, train and underground stations to their school. The new online resource aims to support the transition into secondary school which for many young adults is the first time they will be independently travelling to school, providing information on how to travel safely and responsibly
  • The Cycle Skills course, available on the TfL website, supports the Mayor's world-leading Streetspace for London programme which is rapidly rolling out more space for people to walk and cycle. The Mayor and TfL are committed to a green, sustainable recovery from coronavirus, and their bold measures will reduce the risk of a damaging car-based recovery. Cycle Skills is the first online course to cover everything from getting your bike set up for your first ride to tips for cycling safety with children in one place, and is tailored to cycling in London. Everyone who completes the four training modules will be sent a free Santander Cycles 24-hour access code, enabling them to start putting the skills they've learnt into practice

The series consists of:

  • Get ready to ride: guidance for pre-ride checks to your bike's tyre air pressure, brakes and chain, along with tips for basic control and handling
  • First time on the road: practical advice for how to start cycling on the roads safely and responsibly while avoiding potential hazards
  • On the road again: confidence-boosting tips for people looking to return to cycling after a long break, covering how to share the road safely and communicate with other road users
  • Cycling with children: guidance for cycling safely with children and in a group
  • Currently the quieter times on public transport are between 08:15 - 16:00 and after 17:30 and on the road network: 10:00-15:00 and after 19:00. As schools and offices start to reopen these times may change with public transport being busier until later on in the morning. Quieter times on bus routes, popular with children travelling on school mornings, are between 09:30 - 14:30 and after 16:40. Customers are advised to check before they travel, including checking how busy any station on the TfL network is, at any time of day and where the busiest stations, stops and routes are
  • Visit https://tfl.gov.uk/reopeningeducation for more information on the changes to make school travel safer and the latest advice and resources for schools and other education settings
Channel website: https://tfl.gov.uk/

Original article link: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2020/august/tfl-urges-children-to-walk-cycle-and-scoot-to-school-to-help-children-safely-return-to-the-classroom

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