school/site assessment

Communities all across North America are dealing with increasing school vehicular traffic due to a decreasing number of families walking or cycling to school. The strategies to promote active transportation while reducing traffic congestion are relatively straightforward, but the process, tone and direction of these efforts must be crafted to suit the character and needs of each diverse community.

Assessing schools and communities helps to identify overall goals and early opportunities for success. Urbanthinkers has worked with dozens of schools and can implement a site assessment to help your school build and/or improve on efforts to increase physical activity while reducing traffic congestion.

Walkability Assessment: the WalkAround

The WalkAround is a one-hour walk around the immediate vicinity of a school. The purpose is to photograph and discuss places that affect the safety and comfort of families walking and cycling to school. This includes; school entrances, crosswalks, nearby intersections, traffic lights, drop-off/pick-up zones, staff and visitor parking lots and any concerns already identified by the school community.

A WalkAround is facilitated by Urbanthinkers’ School Travel Planner, and includes a parent and a school administrator and/or teacher. It can take place any time during a school day.

The School Travel Planner takes notes and photographs at each location, and the findings are compiled into a Report that will help municipal staff, the school district and the school prioritize how they can help families feel safer while walking and cycling to school.

Are students involved?

Urbanthinkers is committed to youth engagement – and so each WalkAround includes at least one meeting with a small group of senior students to hear about the concerns and benefits of walking within their neighbourhood.

Contact us to find out how you can schedule a WalkAround, or discuss any other assessment tools for walkability and cycling safety in your community.