This paper presents the results of some research on the traffic experience, perceptions, attitudes and behaviour of school children in Cairo, Egypt. A structured questionnaire was administered to a stratified random sample of 1615 children, from Heliopolis, an affluent suburb, and Helwan, a densely populated district. The children were aged between 6 and 16, with average age ten years. 59% of the children perceived their school to be far from home, 65% of them came to school on their own, and 67% returned home on their own. 75% stated that they preferred to travel on their own, 73% considered that they could handle traffic movements unaided, and 62% perceived crossing streets as easy. In addition, In addition, the traffic behaviour of the children in front of their schools was observed and monitored. The research also aimed to identify and observe the constraints restricting the mobility of school children, and the traffic hazards that they encounter. The paper finally presents a package of policies and remedial measures, that are intended to improve the traffic behaviour of school children in Cairo, and enhance their pedestrian environment.
Abstract