School Streets: A safe way to help kids walk or ride

Cycling or walking to school is a great way to start the day for kids who can, but it’s not always the safest option in some cities. Enter: School Streets. The programs are designed to establish car-free zones in front of schools during the busy morning and afternoon hours, prioritizing the safety of children, caregivers, and teachers as they walk to and from school.

1 day to go! Ease those 1st day nerves by cycling, scooting or walking to school for part or all of your journey. Here are some resources to plan that journey: 🧵 (1/2)

Walking routes courtesy @OttSchoolBus #ottwalk #ocdsb #ocsb https://t.co/IqAXtKWx36

— School Streets Ottawa (@SchoolStYOW) September 4, 2023

The concept of School Streets originated in Bolzano, Italy, during the early 1990s in response to the traffic challenges faced by school communities during peak drop-off and pick-up times. To address this issue, they introduced School Streets, temporarily converting streets into car-free zones and alleviating congestion in proximity to schools. Parents and advocates have been looking for ways to help find safe ways for kids to get to school.

The bike bus movement is spreading

There’s also the Bike Bus movement, which involves large groups of kids riding together with parents on the front and back of the group making sure the route is clear. In places where cycling infrastructure might be lacking, approaches like School Streets and Bike Bus programs are trying to fill the gap.

Great to see one of #WestSussex’s first #SchoolStreets, at Swiss Gardens School in #Shoreham.
It’s not a project we’re involved with, but well done to @WSHighways, local councillors and the school governors for getting this trial up and running. pic.twitter.com/h1JC0IpknF

— Shoreham-By-Cycle (@ShorehamByCycle) September 6, 2023

According to 880cities, the School Street approach has been gaining a lot of popularity and has been replicated in various European cities, including Edinburgh, London, and Denmark. In Canada, School Streets have been successfully implemented in cities such as Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg, as well as in multiple locations in Ontario, including Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Markham, and Kingston. Montreal in Quebec has also embraced the School Streets initiative.

To learn more about how you can organize School Streets programs in your town or city, check out 880cities.com