Road safety cycling and walking to school
Information on how the Council is making cycling and walking to school safer.
Safer routes to School
These are major projects which are developing nationally and locally. The projects aim to enable children to walk and cycle to school safely through the introduction of area wide traffic calming and the creation of networks of safe walking and cycling routes to school.
There is a carefully structured local programme for these projects in Solihull. Accident statistics around schools are studied, congestion problems considered, enthusiasm and commitment from schools measured and how a Safer Routes Project will fit in with a Local Safety Scheme is all taken into account before a school is selected. The first project began in 2000 when Tudor Grange School was the first school to benefit from improved walking and cycling measures followed by Dorridge and, Bentley Heath Primary Schools. Park Hall and Smith's Wood schools were involved in 2002/3. In 2003/4 Langley Primary and Secondary Schools, Our Lady of Compassion Primary School, Kineton Green Primary School and Monkspath Primary School were involved in a project. Other schools will be identified for the future.
KERBCRAFT
We are running a Road Safety Scheme called Kerbcraft for years 1 and 2 in several schools in the Borough.
The Kerbcraft scheme was originally developed in Glasgow, Scotland on the Drumchaple Estate, to try to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured on the estate roads. The scheme was a great success and so it was decided to set up more schemes across the country.
Kerbcraft teaches children how to be safe pedestrians by taking them onto real roads with specially trained volunteers, showing them how to be safe.
The scheme focuses on three main skills:
- Looking for a safer place to cross.
- Coping with parked cars.
- Crossing safely near junctions.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage the children to discuss what they are doing amongst themselves, with the trainer guiding them in the correct way. It is known that children learn by "doing" and with lots of practice this becomes habitual behaviour, which will keep them safe.
Becoming a kerbcraft volunteer
The success of the scheme is dependant upon the help of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and anyone else who is interested in keeping children safe on our roads. Everyone who feels able to volunteer to help with the scheme will receive full training by our Co-ordinator - Carole Walker, and will also be provided with safety equipment.
If you enjoy spending time with children and have an hour a week, four times a term, to spare, then you would play a vital role in keeping children at a school safe.
Please help if you can. Without volunteers it cannot go ahead. We really do need you.
If you would like to become involved with this scheme, please give us a call, for a chat or any further information.
Contact Details
For more information about cycling and walking to school please contact us
Telephone: 0121 704 6511
Email: environment@solihull.gov.uk
Kerbcraft co-ordinator
Transport, Highways and the Environment Division
The Council House
PO Box 19
Solihull
B91 3QT