On the 19th January 2026, we brought together policy makers, practitioners, community stakeholders, and researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Exeter, Birmingham, Edinburgh Napier and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to launch the final report from our 2‑year NIHR‑funded evaluation of traffic restriction schemes outside schools (often called School Streets schemes). The event took place at the Edgbaston Park Hotel at the University of Birmingham.
The room was full of energy, with attendees enthusiastically engaging in discussions and sharing experiences from their own School Streets initiatives. Conversations flowed throughout the day, helping new research evidence connect with lived experience. This exchange of perspectives added depth to the research findings and helped bridge the gap between academic evidence and real-world implementation, and helped to think through how to optimise the delivery of School Streets initiatives
West Midlands Road Safety and Active Travel Commissioners Mat MacDonald and Beccy Marston opened the event with powerful reflections on the need for safer, healthier school environments. The research team, including Dr Richard Patterson and Dr Olivia Alliott (University of Cambridge), delivered their findings from the quantitative and qualitive evaluation of schemes which evidenced an increase in active travel by children and families in their everyday school journey. Professor Sophie Hadfield-Hill (University of Birmingham) also showcased creative maps, artwork and modelmaking from pupils at The Oval School in Birmingham offering unique insights into children’s perspectives on safety, traffic and their sensory experiences of travelling to school.
Participants left feeling motivated to introduce or expand School Streets in their own areas. Many said they planned to use the research to support decision‑making, strengthen funding bids, and communicate the benefits more effectively. They particularly enjoyed the opportunities to connect with an interdisciplinary group of policy makers and practitioners and share their experiences of successful (and less successful) implementation.
For those interested in exploring the research in more depth, full details of the study can be found on the SPHR project page on the website or you can contact the lead investigator, Professor Jenna Panter.
