School Buses

The NW3 School Bus Project

Between 2018 and 2019, Green School Runs led the NW3 School Bus Project, an ambitious initiative to explore the potential of a shared school bus service in the Hampstead area. The goal was simple but powerful: reduce school-run traffic by offering a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport alternative for families.

School buses are a proven way to cut congestion. A single 30-seat bus can remove 15–20 cars from the road - a vital intervention in an area like Hampstead, which has one of the highest concentrations of schools in London.

Why a multi-school bus model?

Rather than have each school run its own service, which would lead to an overcrowded and inefficient system, we proposed a shared, multi-school model, designed to be:

Efficient: fewer buses serving multiple schools
Cost-effective: bulk negotiations with transport providers to keep prices accessible
Inclusive: small schools or those with limited demand would still benefit
Practical: families with children at different schools could use one service
Impactful: maximising capacity meant more cars off the road

Each proposed route would include a few strategically chosen pick-up points and central drop-off locations, within walking distance of several schools.

How this multi-school bus service project worked in practice

Over the course of the project, we engaged with schools, parents, local authorities, and transport providers to explore routes, logistics, and demand. While there was strong support in principle, several barriers ultimately made it unfeasible. These included:

Logistical complexity of coordinating routes and timetables across multiple schools
Funding and pricing challenges, particularly without central subsidies
Inconsistent demand across different schools and areas
Insurance and safeguarding requirements that varied widely between institutions

Despite significant effort and periods of real momentum, the project did not reach the stage of long-term implementation. However, it provided valuable insight into the opportunities and limitations of school bus models in dense urban areas.

Looking ahead

While the NW3 School Bus Project is no longer active, the idea remains relevant and we’re always open to revisiting it if the landscape changes.

If you're interested in learning more about the project, or would like to collaborate on future school transport initiatives, please get in touch.

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