Residents and parents in Oxfordshire have given positive feedback on the School Streets trials that have been taking place across the county since March 2021. 

The pilot scheme trialled closures of roads to traffic at drop-off and pick-up times during term-time to open the road to safe walking and cycling.

Oxfordshire County Council has been working with Sustrans, a walking and cycling charity, to implement nine School Street trials across the county. 

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The pilot scheme trialled closures of roads using experimental traffic regulation orders (ETRO).

There were 518 residents and parents and 112 pupils who completed surveys about their experience.

Of these, 59 per cent of parents and residents said they supported School Streets, 27 per cent did not and the remaining 21 per cent weren’t sure or supported with modification. 

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Sixty per cent of pupils who completed a survey said they felt the road outside their school felt safer or much safer during the School Streets trial, 30 per cent were unsure and nine per cent thought it was less safe or much less safe than before.

Of the nine schools that took part in the trial, St Christopher’s, Larkrise, St Nicolas and St Ebbes schools have decided to continue with their School Street.

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