Traffic congestion around schools is growing and concerns about air quality and road safety are increasing across Melbourne, but Bicycle Network's Open Streets program offers a glimpse of a cleaner, healthier future.
The initiative creates safe spaces for students and their parents at drop-off and pickup times, by dedicating streets surrounding the school to active travel. This makes the environment more appealing for riding, walking, scooting and skating.
Following success at schools in Melbourne's north, Open Streets ventured to Malvern's Lloyd Street Primary School in Melbourne's south-east earlier this year.
In partnership with the City of Stonnington, the Bicycle Network program was trialled across three consecutive Tuesdays in February, for one hour before and after school.
Students flocked to the makeshift obstacle course and used chalk to cover the road surface with artwork, while parents and carers lingered, socialised and soaked up the benefits of a people-oriented street environment.
The results of surveys conducted with families, residents and students are now in and 100% of participants said the street felt safe on Open Streets days, compared to 59% on a regular school day.
75.6% of students and their families actively travelled to school on Open Streets days compared to just 48% on regular days and 92% of families surveyed said they'd like to see more Open Streets in the future.
Open Streets is part of a global movement to create safer and healthier journeys for school students. More than 1200 school streets have been set up around the world since 2019, and the good news is Bicycle Network's Open Streets program is gathering momentum here too.
The program was delivered to two schools in 2021, three schools in 2022 and this year five schools have participated in our Open Streets program. More are planned in future years.