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Home: Q&A: Traffic
Congestion Measure menu
Cycling and Walking to School
Karen Rukin - April
2005
karen.rukin@kirklees.gov.uk
How to contact us...
What is a safer route to school?
The safer routes to school initiative aims to promote safer, more environmentally sustainable and healthier ways of getting to and from
school with particular emphasis on walking and cycling. To achieve this we need to improve conditions in both safety and the environment
on the main walking and cycling routes to school. Schemes can include physical measures such as safer crossing points and may involve
work within the school grounds.
Projects involve the investigation of school travel patterns usually carried out with the commitment to a school travel plan.
What is a school travel plan?
A school travel plan is a document that sets out a number of practical ways to reduce the number of car trips made to a school. A school
travel plan can sometimes identify engineering and educational measures to improve safety on the route between home and school. These
measures may include:
- Pedestrian crossings, improved pavements
- School zones, traffic calming, parking restrictions
- Cycle routes and cycle parking
- Road safety education, training and publicity
- Health information
- Personal security advice
The travel plan aims to raise awareness among pupils and parents of the harmful effects of increasing car use on children's health,
safety and independence. The travel plan aims to win hearts and minds by raising awareness of the implications of travel choice and the
benefits of encouraging more sustainable travel to school. The travel plan can include proposals such as "safer routes" and "school
zones".
What can I do?
If you live close enough, encourage your children to walk to school, it will help them keep fit, be alert and become more street-wise.
It is a good idea to provide bright reflective clothing, supportive shoes and a back pack. For younger children, either walk with them,
or get together with other parents and take it in turns to accompany other children, this could be the beginnings of a walking bus.
What is a Walking Bus?
A walking bus is an initiative to encourage more children, accompanied by adults, to walk to school and by doing so reduce traffic and
congestion outside schools. Walking as a group and using an agreed route, the children are under the supervision of at least 2
responsible adults - "a driver" and "conductor" - who are known to the school. Any volunteers have to complete a police criminal
records background check.
The councils road safety staff will risk assess routes and provide necessary training for all volunteers. Children and adults involved
in a Walking Bus must wear reflective tabards which are supplied free of charge by the road safety office.
Should my child cycle to school?
Cycling to school can be a way of increasing fitness and road sense. We would recommend that everyone cycling to school has first passed
their cycling proficiency test.
Other safety tips include:
- Providing bright and reflective clothes including florescent bands
- Buy the right size bike. It is better to have a bike the right size than buy one "to grow into". An incorrectly sized bike
is harder to control and potentially dangerous. It is advisable to get advice from a professional when buying a bike.
- Buy a well fitting cycle helmet that carries a CE mark and one of the normal safety standards such as - BS683:1989, AS.2063, ANZI,
IZZ 90.4 SNELL, B90 or B95
What if I have to drive my children to school?
We ask people to think carefully if they need to drive but we understand that sometimes it is unavoidable. If you do have to drive
please consider:
- Parking well away from the school entrance and never on the yellow zig zag road markings
- Parking away from the school entrance is sometimes called "park and stride" this will help your child to experience some
of the benefits of walking to school and reduce school gate congestion.
- Talk to other parents about car sharing and taking it in turns, this will also reduce congestion and pollution
- Make sure your child gets out of the vehicle on the pavement side where possible
- Leaving an engine running whilst waiting to collect children produces 80% more pollution than when a vehicle is in motion. 1 in 7
children have asthma and medical evidence believes this is linked to traffic fumes. Turning off you engine whilst waiting will help to
cut down on this pollution.
Where can I find out about school crossing Patrols?
See School Crossing Patrols for more information.
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