Bruges works on child-friendly school environments
The City of Bruges' Ten-Point Plan Safe School Environment is a textbook example of how to make school environments safer. An integrated approach including School Transport Plans and Traffic Education Routes not only exposes bottlenecks but also provides effective solutions in and around Bruges primary schools.
Integrated approach for maximum impact
As part of the Ten-Point Plan Safe School Surroundings, Mobiel 21 draws up school transport plans for nine schools in Bruges. The school transport plans map the means of transport, routes and bottlenecks of pupils, (grand)parents and staff to and from school. To this end, we use an online questionnaire in combination with a digital map on which everyone marks out their route to school and indicates dangerous and safe points.
The result is an action plan tailored to each school with concrete short- and long-term goals and actions. The ultimate goal: a school environment with safe and pleasant cycling routes for everyone. Via the map application, the schools and the city get a clear picture of the routes and means of transport used to get to school. Dangerous situations, safe crossings, good and unsafe infrastructure ... everything is listed on it. This means that road authorities can also use this information to react more quickly to existing bottlenecks.
Actions vary from school to school
School transport plans formulate concrete short- and long-term objectives and actions. These actions differ from school to school. Depending on the concrete traffic situation, they include:
- a school street that keeps cars out of the school environment at the beginning and end of the school day
- authorised supervisors who help pupils cross safely at dangerous intersections
- escorted queues that take pupils safely to drop-off points or public transport stops
- a Traffic Education Route where pupils practice their traffic and cycling skills with the class
- more and better bicycle parking facilities
Bruges pupils become traffic ambassador
Mobiel 21 launched the Traffic Ambassadors project together with the Prevention Service and Police of Bruges. A project in which hundreds of pupils set a good example to their fellow pupils and directly pass on their suggestions and concerns to the mayor. In this way, they help improve safety in the neighbourhood of their school. The City of Bruges provides supporting material such as banners and vests as well as a short brochure that explains to pupils in six steps how to become a good traffic ambassador.
Want to know more about safe school environments?
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Safe school environments and routes
Children deserve a safe journey to school. We work with schools, parents, local authorities and pupils to create safer routes, reduce traffic pressure and promote active travel in the school environment. Autonomous mobility should be the norm. Everywhere!