Cars will be banned from 200 more roads in London as Sadiq Khan and TfL launch new scheme to encourage walking in the capital

Published: 12:51, 27 May 2026 | Updated: 12:56, 27 May 2026 Cars are set to be banned from 200 more roads in London as Sadiq Khan and TfL launch a new scheme to encourage walking in the capital. Over 800 controversial 'School Streets' have already been implemented in the city, bringing restrictions on vehicles during school drop-off and collection times. The eco policy has been helping to 'improve air quality and reduce road danger by reducing motor traffic and providing additional space', according to Transport for London (TfL). But critics say they simply force cars elsewhere, causing commuters and delivery drivers to go 'round the houses' at the busiest times of the day. Now the number of School Streets in London is touted to soar beyond 1,000 as the Mayor gears up for another anti-motorist campaign.  The scheme will be fully introduced by 2030 and aims to make walking the 'first choice of travel to school for even more Londoners'. It has not yet been revealed which roads will be shut off to cars as part of the new wave of School Streets.  Local authorities are responsible for creating School Streets but boroughs across London were made aware of TfL data analysing the level of suitability for the scheme outside each school in each area. Cars are set to be banned from 200 more roads in London as Sadiq Khan and TfL launch a new scheme to encourage walking in the capital (Stock Photo) The proposals are part of a wider plan to achieve Khan's aim for 80 per cent of journeys in the capital to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041. As well as the planned closure of dozens of streets, the Mayor is considering making 20mph the default speed limit across London. Previous plans showed an aim to convert another 35 miles of the capital's roads from 30mph limits by 2030.  One of the policies being touted is the creation of 1,000 new zebra or signalised pedestrian crossings - with built-in countdown timers - by 2031 to make life easier for walkers and cyclists. And such crossings are set to bring traffic to a halt with increased frequency, with more of them programmed to now show a green man signal the moment a button is pressed. Side road zebra crossings positioned at junctions will also be tested out on TfL's major routes.  Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy at TfL, said: 'Walking is already at the heart of how Londoners get around, but we know too many people are still put off by safety concerns, poor crossings or inaccessible streets.  'This new plan sets out how we'll change that by making it easier and more pleasant to walk for everyday journeys, whether that's getting to school, the station or the local high street.  'By working in partnership with boroughs and communities, we can create streets that are safer, more inclusive and better for everyone.' Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, said: 'The Mayor and I are determined to make walking the safest, easiest and most enjoyable way of getting around London.  'This new plan will help us drive further progress in cleaning up our air and tackling congestion, with record amounts invested to support more Londoners in leaving the car at home and walking instead.  'Whether you're popping to the shops or heading for the local train station, walking for shorter journeys is vital for the health and future prosperity of our city, as we continue building a greener and better London for everyone.' Councils in the capital have previously been spotted erecting huge bollards shaped like pencils in a bid to deter parents from causing traffic chaos on the school runs by clogging up the streets. Eye-catching bollard designs were created by the School Streets initiative in Richmond upon Thames to stop cars from entering certain roads during drop-off and pick-up time. Many welcomed the new initiative with open arms, whilst others were furious at the proposal arguing that it would only push the traffic issues further out of Richmond upon Thames. Following a successful trial using pencil bollards and dragon's teeth designs to signal to drivers the beginning of School Street, 17 more were installed by the council. Mayor Sadiq Khan pictured in May. He is aiming for 80 per cent of journeys in the capital to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041 Gateways to affected streets included a five-metre deep red resin bound surface across the carriageway, in the hope of improving visibility, compliance and safety. There were also four white triangular 'dragon's teeth' along the kerb edge on the red surface with three pencil bollards on either side. The scheme was panned by locals who said it would just prompt motorists to 'park on the edge of the zone causing traffic problems'. School Streets are being put in place across the UK, including in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Brighton, and Reading Originally created in Italy in 1989, Scotland was the first in the UK to introduce the schemes in 2015 while Camden was the first in London in 2017.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.