This paper focuses on the Safe Routes to School initiative being piloted in York, England. It outlines the context in which York has been handling road safety, what the initiative involves, how it is introducing the initiative at three schools, and the lessons learned so far. The City of York Council is committed to promoting sustainable transport and development policies through its comprehensive Transport Strategy, whose seven key integrated principles include measures to reduce accidents. The Council has four major road safety initiatives: (1) promotion of the Road Danger Reduction Charter; (2) its Road Safety Plan; (3) its Accident Reduction Strategy; and (4) its Speed Management Plan. Using these initiatives, York is working hard to continue to improve road safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, who suffered 30% of road casualties in the York area in 1997. Thus there should be considerable scope to raise the proportion of journeys to school by walking and cycling, as long as their actual and perceived safety can be increased. This is the rationale behind York's adoption of the Sustrans Safe Routes to School policy. Experience of it at three schools in York has identified five important relevant issues, and shown that it is part of an integrated area accident prevention strategy and an opportunity to influence the travel behaviour of young people and their parents.
Samenvatting