Some 40% of children in Central London who previously travelled to school by car have now switched to more active modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, or public transport, following the introduction of the ULEZ, new research has shown. In contrast, only two in 10 children made this switch over the same period in Luton, the comparison area without an Ultra-Low Emission Zone.

The research showed that children in London within the ULEZ were 3.6 times more likely to shift from car travel to active travel modes compared to those in Luton, who were far less likely (0.11 times) to switch to inactive modes, says the Innovation News Network.

Car travel contributes to air pollution, a major cause of heart and lung diseases, including asthma attacks. Beyond this, it limits children’s opportunities for physical activity, hindering their development and mental health and increasing their risk of obesity and chronic illnesses, .

Despite UK guidelines recommending a daily average of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for school-aged children and adolescents, less than half (45%) of children aged 5-16 met these levels in 2021.

In April 2019, London introduced the ULEZ to help improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicles on the road that do not meet emissions standards.

According to TfL, the central London ULEZ reduced harmful nitrogen oxides by 35% and particulate matter by 15% in central London within the first ten months of its introduction.

The study examined data from almost 2,000 children aged six to nine years attending 84 primary schools in London and the control area, Luton. 44 schools were located with catchment areas within or bordering London’s ULEZ, and these were compared to a similar number in Luton and Dunstable.

The researchers collected data from June 2018 to April 2019, prior to ULEZ implementation, and again from June 2019 to March 2020, the year after implementation of the ULEZ but prior to COVID-19-related school closures.

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