Actively promote sustainable forms of public transport at your London school, college, university or other academic institution.

A PassageWay Service Status digital sign offers a real-time alternative to TfL bus timetables pinned to walls and downloadable PDF’s on websites.

The school run is a major source of traffic and air pollution In London. The traffic attributed to the school drop-off and pick-up, according to TfL, accounts for nearly 50% of the traffic during 8-9AM and 3-4PM during term terms. The unfortunate result is that some of London’s worst pollution hotspots are found around schools located on busy and congested roads. 

Increasingly schools are encouraging parents, pupils and staff to ditch the car and use safe and sustainable ways of travelling, such as cycling, walking and public transport. 

The benefits of public transport for students (of all ages), according to SusTrans the cycling promotion charity, are clear:

• Time-saving for parents if their children are able to travel to and from school independently

• Reduced costs and carbon emissions compared to low-occupancy car use 

• Supporting local public transport services benefits the wider community 

• Reduced number of cars in the streets around the school, making it safer and more attractive for those who walk, cycle, scoot or skate 

• Develops independence and valuable life skills 

• Can help young people to access future education, training and employment opportunities by widening the places they can travel to independently.

In London, the Transport for London STARS programme provides support to help young Londoners think differently about travel and its impact on their health, wellbeing and the environment and has over 1500 London schools, nurseries and colleges taking part. Each year the programme actively promotes the ‘World Car Free Day’ to prompt car users to ditch their cars for one day, hoping to trigger a longer term adoption of more sustainable forms of transport. 

Schools, colleges and universities face the challenge of how to actively promote alternative forms of transport. Historically, timetables may have been pinned to a noticeboard, copies kept in the library or posted at the school website. But, as we’re all aware, the public transport network for London is subject to constant change, with disruptions and route modifications. Equally, many schools restrict use of mobile phones on campus, meaning that students are unaware of real-time public transport transport information. 

A PassageWay Service Status digital sign connects your school, college or university to real-time local public transport information including any disruption notifications that may affect the local area.