Walking or wheeling to school offers many benefits. It improves health and resilience for children and greater independence. Plus, reducing school run congestion - around 25% of morning traffic is parents driving their children to school [1] - leads to better air quality for everyone. 

Currently, having safe walking routes to school is a matter of chance, a lottery for our children. This is unacceptable. Every child deserves a safe and independent walk to school.

We understand the financial pressures facing the council and the need for prioritization. However, the sheer number of near misses reported by parents demands urgent action. Our survey revealed that a staggering 66% of local parents have witnessed or experienced a near miss while walking to school [2]. 

In workplaces, near misses are taken seriously, recognized as valuable indicators of potential hazards [3]. Ignoring such a high level of near misses involving our children would be a grave oversight. We cannot wait for a serious accident to occur before taking action. This isn't just about statistics; these are our children's lives at risk.

This action aligns perfectly with the council's motion to 'Make Sheffield A Pedestrian Friendly City' [4] and with Mayor Coppard’s recent pledge to “Make South Yorkshire the best place in the country to walk, wheel and cycle for our children” [5]. We urge the Mayoral Combined Authority to allocate the necessary funds to enable Sheffield City Council to provide this – and the many other – safe routes to school that are so desperately needed.

This zebra crossing is not just a simple road improvement; it's a vital investment in our children's future and the health of our community. It's an investment in cleaner air, reduced congestion, and the well-being of our children. It's about giving our children the freedom to walk to school safely and independently. 

We urge Sheffield City Council and the Mayoral Combined Authority to prioritise this essential safety measure and work with us to make it a reality.