A charity comprising NW3 parents is fundraising for three London Breathe monitors to combat air pollution caused by the school run.
NW3 is notorious for its school-run traffic with 36 schools, the highest concentration of schools anywhere in Europe, in the area, and parents and children face daily commutes of up to an hour-and-a-half along with dangerous levels of air pollution.
Green School Runs is aiming to install air monitors will help to collect data on the school run, proving a clearer picture of how traffic in the area ebbs and flows with school timings.
Green School Runs co-founder Francesca Agostini said: “Unless we have sensors that can really capture that change, it is easy to underestimate the issue.
“Without clear data it’s difficult to use the right solutions and it’s also difficult to monitor the solutions are working.”
NW3 has a high concentration of independent schools, which means catchment isn’t often local and many children are driven in from all over London.
Data from Solve the School Run found 93% of pupils who travel under a mile to get to school do so sustainably, walking, biking or public transport whereas 65% of pupils who travel over a mile are driven.
An estimated 150,000 pupils from across London are driven to school, which accounts for 79% of all pupils in the city.
This issue is most prevalent in NW3, where Green School Runs work with parents to find alternative ways to school, such as park and stride schemes, walking buses and even bike buses.
Bike Bus Camden organiser and parent Charlotte Claydon said: “It’s just a sort of daily farce.
“It is just, absolutely horrific congestion around Belsize and Hampstead.”
The bike bus Claydon started runs every Thursday and has even had MPs, Deputy Mayor of London Mete Coban, and London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman involved.
Claydon said: “It is the most joyful thing, it is just such good fun.
“The kids really love it, it leaves the adults in a boosted mood, kids learn better when they get to school after exercise.
“They are learning really important skills, they’re getting independent that much earlier.”
Camden Council and Belsize Park have made considerable donations towards the air monitors, alongside a Go-Fund-Me set up by Green School Runs.
The planned installation points for the monitors are Belsize Park, Hampstead, and Finchley Road and Frognal.
However, change needs to happen in an accessible way for all parents to be effective.
Agostini said: “I think we need to be really creative now, and find a solution that is flexible and not too expensive.
“Otherwise, people will go back to driving, which is, for some families, it’s just a default option.”
The 603 bus from Princes Avenue to Swiss Cottage runs a route which could potentially alleviate much of the congestion.
However, the service’s timings and frequency do not align with the school run, leaving it as unsuitable for many.
Residents have campaigned to Transport for London (TfL) for near on 20 years to ensure the timings of the bus are altered to better connect the boroughs of Camden and Barnet.
Agostini said: “We have no idea why TfL is so reluctant to make this change.
“They are reluctant with us, they are reluctant with the councils.
“We really see no rationale to not even trying, it’s not a capability problem it has to do with not understanding how impactful this could be on the traffic.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “We know buses are an important lifeline for millions of Londoners, including those getting to and from school, and we’re determined to ensure that everyone has access to reliable and frequent services.
“We regularly review our services according to customer demand to ensure that the right level of service is provided with connections to key destinations and interchange to other services available.
“Feedback is hugely important to us, and we have engaged with parents and the local community for some time about their aspirations for the route.
“We are happy to discuss the operation of route 603 with Camden Council and other local stakeholders, to ensure we’re providing the best bus network possible for Londoners.”
Green School Runs will continue to work with schools and parents to raise awareness of the issue and fundraise for the air monitors.
When asked what needs to change Agostini said: “Maybe there’s also not a big understanding of the danger of the pollution…and the young generation not having an independence of travel anymore.
“I think it’s something cultural that needs to change.”
Green School Runs and Bike Bus Camden are always looking for new volunteers and potential trustees to join helping more children get to school sustainably and independently.
Anyone interested should contact Green School Runs via their website or Bike Bus Camden via Instagram.
Feature image credit: Green School Runs
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