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Safe cycling and walking to school in Solihull

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Safe cycling and walking to school in Solihull

SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL

This programme is part of a major project that is developing nationally and locally. The projects aim is to allow children to walk and cycle to school in safety via the introduction of area wide traffic calming and by creating networks of safe walking and cycling routes to school.

In Solihull, there is a carefully structured local programme as part of the wider safer routes programme. The plan is structured by carefully studying the statistics for accidents around schools, consideration of congestion problems, enthusiasm and commitment from schools 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. The process is still being carried out to identify more schools for the future.

KERBCRAFT

Solihull Council is also running another road safety scheme called Kerbcraft for year 1 and 2 in numerous schools in the Borough.

This idea was originally developed in Glasgow, Scotland on the Drumchaple Estate, to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured on the estate roads. The idea was a huge success and followed a roll out began to extend it to other parts across the country.

The scheme basically teaches children how to be safe pedestrians by taking them onto real roads with qualified and trained volunteers who show them how to be safe.

The focus of the scheme is to develop three main skills:

· How to identify a safer place to cross the road

· How to cope with parked cars.

· How to cross safely near junctions.

As it is known that children best learn by "doing" and with practice it becomes habitual behaviour, 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. By encouraging it to become an embedded practice it will help the children to remain safe.

Becoming a kerbcraft volunteer

The success of the scheme is dependant upon the help of the general public and all those that are interested in keeping children safe on the roads in Solihull. All those who are able to volunteer will be provided with the necessary and full training by the Co-ordinator, and will also be provided with safety equipment.

If you take pleasure in spending time with children and have about an hour a week free, for only four times in a term, then you could play a vital role in keeping children at a Solihull school safe. As this scheme is really dependant on participation and volunteers please do help if you can. For further information on how to get involved with this scheme, please feel free to contact Solihull Council on the contact details below.

Kerbcraft Co-ordinator
Transport, Highways and the Environment Division
The Council House
PO Box 19
Solihull
B91 3QT

This brief article focuses on how the Solihull Council is trying to make cycling and walking to school safer.


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