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Family friendly streets

Many parents would like their children to play outside independently and be free to explore their local area but feel that issues such as traffic and parked cars prevent them from doing so safely.

A group of children playing on their street However, it's not as hard as it sounds to alter the physical layout of your street and perceptions about how your street can be used so that people, rather than cars, take priority.

Large scale projects to improve your street could include narrowing the street entrance or adding a pedestrian crossing. However, there are many smaller scale changes which can be effective like adding more greenery to gardens or forming a resident's group to lobby for a 20 mph speed limit.

A great starting point is to encourage your neighbours to get to know each other so you can all start thinking about how your street could be improved.

You could:

Arrange a street party. Organise a street closure and temporarily close your street to cars to enable children and adults to experience their street in a different way.
Have a shared Christmas tree for the whole street to enjoy. Gather all the residents around it for a carol concert with mince pies and mulled wine.
Walk your children to school. This is a good opportunity for your child to make friends with local children, and for parents to get to know each other too!
Install a community notice board where residents on your street can share information and arrange social gatherings.

When you have developed a strong social life with your neighbours, start thinking about simple, easy things you can do to improve your street. Ideas could include:

Set an example by agreeing that you will all drive very slowly on your street.
Where possible, walk and cycle to the local amenities. This reduces traffic, encourages drivers to slow down because they anticipate cyclists and pedestrians and also offers more opportunities to socialise with neighbours. If driving is essential, why not see if you can car share with a neighbour?
Engage drivers in the social life of your street by giving them a friendly wave as they pass through.
Show drivers that they are entering a residential area by leaving tell-tale signs of life on the street and in gardens like netball hoops, children's toys and outdoor furniture.
Arrange play sessions for the children where parents can have a catch up together whilst supervising young children.
Lobby your council to implement a 20 mph speed limit. Encourage your neighbours to sign the Free Range Kids pledge to help Sustrans campaign for 20 mph in residential areas and investment in safe walking and cycling routes.

Children playing with chalk on their street When you realise how effective these small scale measures are, you and your neighbours may decide that you would like to look into more permanent, large scale changes to your street. Find out how Sustrans can help to bring communities together to redesign their streets, making them safer and more attractive.

Here are some ideas for specific improvements that you might want to make to your street with top tips for bringing your ideas to life:

Greenery (pdf) - adding greenery can add life and colour making your street more attractive.
Gateways (pdf) - an obvious gateway to your street signals to drivers that they are entering a residential area.
Street furniture (pdf) - carefully positioned furniture encourages residents to make better use of their street.
Artwork and children's games (pdf) - temporary artwork adds variety to a street and can reduce traffic speeds.
Life in front gardens (pdf) - evidence of life on a street sends a message that it is not just a thoroughfare for cars.
Reducing sightlines (pdf) - if drivers are unable to see a clear path ahead of them, they are likely to reduce their speed.
Narrowing the street (pdf) - narrow roads encourage drivers slow down.