Routes to schoolRoutes to schoolAmics de la bici (Friends of the Bicycle)Amics de la bici (Friends of the Bicycle)

What are school routes?What are school routes? The routes The routes

that children that children and teenagers and teenagers have to follow have to follow from their from their homes to homes to school.school.

How we can improve safe How we can improve safe routes to school?routes to school?

Above all, we must improveAbove all, we must improve accessaccess by foot and bicycle, by foot and bicycle, because these are the most because these are the most accessible and healthy means accessible and healthy means of transport for pupils. of transport for pupils.

And most important, we need And most important, we need to achieve to achieve traffic calmingtraffic calming to to guarantee everybody’s guarantee everybody’s safety.safety.

How can we achieve traffic How can we achieve traffic calming?calming?

By placing traffic By placing traffic signals on the signals on the streets to reduce streets to reduce the speed of cars the speed of cars around schools.around schools.

Tabor School, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

How can we achieve traffic How can we achieve traffic calming?calming?

By placing speed humps at pedestrian By placing speed humps at pedestrian crossings.crossings.

Raised pedestrian crossing, Viladecans

How can we achieve traffic How can we achieve traffic calming?calming?

By enlarging existing and building new By enlarging existing and building new pedestrian areas.pedestrian areas.

Enlarged sidewalk in Gràcia, Barcelona

How can we achieve traffic How can we achieve traffic calming?calming?

By making By making cycling easier, cycling easier, by building cycle by building cycle paths and paths and bicycle parking.bicycle parking.

Bicycle parking in front of Tabor School, Barcelona

The bicycle: a very important The bicycle: a very important tool for Deltebre students tool for Deltebre students

Deltebre pollution-free

El Periódico, November 17, 2002

The experience of the I.E.S. The experience of the I.E.S. MarianaoMarianao

School in Sant Boi de LlobregatSchool in Sant Boi de Llobregat This school is a member of the This school is a member of the Green School Green School

NetworkNetwork run by the Department of Education of run by the Department of Education of the Catalan Government (north-eastern Spain). the Catalan Government (north-eastern Spain). Its main objective is promoting nature and Its main objective is promoting nature and respect for the environment.respect for the environment.

One of the school’s main aims is to promote the One of the school’s main aims is to promote the use of clean transport such as walking and use of clean transport such as walking and cycling.cycling.

Each year a bicycle tour for new students (primer Each year a bicycle tour for new students (primer d’ESO, 12 years old) is organized.d’ESO, 12 years old) is organized.

In 2002 and after having made a request, the In 2002 and after having made a request, the school obtained permission from the Sant Boi school obtained permission from the Sant Boi town council to build bicycle parkingtown council to build bicycle parking..

Bicycle parkingBicycle parking

The parking area is easily watched from the bar and

can be locked with a key kept at the

school porter’s desk.

Bicycle parkingBicycle parking Students and employees can Students and employees can

use this parking area situated use this parking area situated on the main playground.on the main playground.

Bicycle eventBicycle event The Biciclot company organizes a bicycle tour for the younger students The Biciclot company organizes a bicycle tour for the younger students (“primer d’eso”, around 12 years old), including a course on traffic education.(“primer d’eso”, around 12 years old), including a course on traffic education.

Bicycle eventBicycle event

Getting ready for a tour around town.

Bicycle eventBicycle event

On the ride, the students learn tips about the environment. Photo above: at the foot of Sant Ramon mountain.

Weak pointsWeak points The bicycle parking is not used as it could be. The bicycle parking is not used as it could be.

This is because:This is because:

A lack of bicycle paths or safe school routes to the A lack of bicycle paths or safe school routes to the centercenter from Sant Boi and from nearby towns or villages. from Sant Boi and from nearby towns or villages.DifficultyDifficulty for students as well as school employees for students as well as school employees (teachers and other school workers) (teachers and other school workers) to find a good place to find a good place to keep the bicycle at hometo keep the bicycle at home..Living close to school,Living close to school, as the majority of the students do, as the majority of the students do, means they prefer to walk, also a healthy habit.means they prefer to walk, also a healthy habit.Generally, people are not used to using bikesGenerally, people are not used to using bikes as an as an alternative means of transport.alternative means of transport.

We want safe school routes!We want safe school routes! We have to solve the problems step by step and it is We have to solve the problems step by step and it is

especially important that the town council promote especially important that the town council promote safe routes to schoolsafe routes to school by improving the conditions for by improving the conditions for

walking and cycling to school.walking and cycling to school.