Greater Manchester to create 50 new School Streets
Greater Manchester has secured £500,000 to deliver 50 School Streets across the region by March 2022.
A School Street is a road outside a school with restrictions on motor traffic at school drop off and pick up times.
The School Streets project forms part of Greater Manchester’s ambition to deliver the UK’s largest cycling and walking network and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
It also forms part of a new partnership calling on people to ‘go car-free’ and make everyday journeys and the school run by bike or on foot on national Clean Air Day (Thursday 17 June) and beyond.
This initiative will enable tens of thousands of children across all ten Greater Manchester council areas to breathe cleaner air on the school run.
Projections show that if all Greater Manchester car journeys of less than one kilometre were walked or cycled, it would prevent at least 42,750 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, a saving that’s equivalent to planting 21 million new trees.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: ‘We all have a role to play in cleaning up our air. Children are most affected by air pollution and much of their exposure to it is during the school run.
‘We are committed to delivering 50 School Streets across the city-region to help clean up our air and become carbon neutral by 2038. I hope as many people as possible will join us this Clean Air Day and beyond by cycling and walking for short everyday trips.’
Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester’s transport commissioner, added: ‘Half of Greater Manchester residents have said they want to walk and cycle more once the pandemic is over and we intend to help them do just that.
‘We’re working hard to make getting around on foot and by bike the natural choice for shorter journeys in Greater Manchester. We’re building the UK’s largest cycling and walking network with over 100 schemes already in the development pipeline.
‘Join us this Clean Air Day and beyond and try something different, leaving the car at home. I guarantee that your children, your body and your mind will thank you for it.’
Photo Credit – Pixabay
[…] especially given Greater Manchester Combined Authority recently announced £500,000 to support 50 School Streets across the […]
So valiant efforts, like this, are being made to limit car use near schools. But, in terms of clean air, that still leaves the vast ‘elephant in the room’ of wood burning stoves. The scheme may discourage parents from driving their children to and from schools but two or three of the school’s neighbours could have would burners and undo all the good work. Where I live, during the winter months, the wood burners seem to be lit mid afternoon – just when the children are coming out of school. The whole area reeks of smoke!