Spaces for People: Expansion of School Car Free Zones

Road safety for primary school pupils across Glasgow is set to improve as we roll out car free zones around 20 city primary schools through the council's Spaces for People programme, which has created additional road space for physical distancing for walking, wheeling and cycling as part of the effort to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

An initial trial of car free zones that began in August 2019 has seen significant reductions in traffic around the six primary schools involved (St Blane's, Broomhill, Lourdes, Our Lady of the Rosary, Bankhead and Hillhead) with 69% fewer vehicles identified outside those schools during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Research from Edinburgh Napier University also shows that school car free zones have a positive impact on the perception of road safety and encourage active travel in the wider community.

Phase 2 went live on 19 October 2020 at the schools listed below:

• Battlefield Primary School
• Blairdardie Primary School                         
• Cadder Primary School 
• Carntyne Primary School
• Dunard Primary
• Gowanbank Primary
• Hyndland Primary School
• Kelvindale Primary School                         
• King's Park Primary School                         
• Merrylee Primary School
• Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School
• Mosspark Primary School
• Parkview Primary School
• Scotstoun Primary School
• St Anne's Primary School
• St Angela's Primary School
• St Bernard's Primary School
• St Fillan's Primary School
• St Paul's (S) Primary School
• St Paul's (W) Primary School

The new car free zones have been introduced on a temporary basis to allow them to be implemented quickly.  The zones are designed to prohibit cars and other vehicles from driving up to school gates between 8.30am and 9.15am and then 2.30pm and 3.15pm each weekday, during term time.

Blue badge drivers are exempt and residents within the zones will be issued with permits that allow them to park without penalty. But any other driver who enters the zone during the specified times can be fined £50 by the Police.

For any car free zone to become permanent a full traffic regulation order will be required.

Access any of the links below to find out further information on the scheme: 

• How it will work, times of operation and how it will be enforced
• How it might affect you
• Frequently asked questions