sCOOL2walk

The sCOOL2walk project continues to promote road safety in schools in Barcelona, Malta, and Riga under the leadership of CARNET. With the collaboration of The Future Mobility Network and City Councils, the sCOOL2walk workshops were executed in the three schools selected for the pilots throughout May, marking a key milestone in promoting safer commuting options for children.

The primary objective of these workshops was to establish the necessary requirements for developing the sCOOL2walk web application, which includes the safest routes for children to walk to school. The involvement of key actors, such as the Guàrdia Urbana in Barcelona and representatives of the local police in Siggiewi, Malta, played a crucial role in capturing the students' interest and engaging them to collaborate in the workshops, and, secondly, in promoting road safety and providing valuable insights, based on their experience, on the essential features that the application can consider.

In each participating school, the engaging sessions were organized for both parents and children, resulting in valuable lessons learnt and needs identified from different groups. For example, in Siggiewi (Malta), school participants expressed a strong concern for road safety due to the city’s poor walking infrastructure, especially in the school’s surroundings. Parents displayed a keen interest in the sCOOL2walk app, recognizing its potential to address this pressing issue.

For the Sant Ramon Nonat School in Barcelona (Spain), the workshops uncovered a particular concern for teenagers, especially females, who perceived walking to school as unsafe. As a result, the project’s target audience was expanded, and additional requirements will be added to meet the specific needs of this demographic. The need for accompanied walks emerged as a significant requirement, reinforcing the app's importance in providing a safer commuting experience for minors.

Significant results can be taken from Riga’s 45 Vidusskola in Riga workshops with parents, such as children often commute independently and use public transport. As in Malta, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure was identified, and while the built environment status is not within the scope of sCOOL2walk, this participatory process has allowed to identify the necessities of each region, providing an important opportunity for the sCOOL2walk app to be instrumental in promoting a sense of independence and awareness among children.

By harnessing the insights gained from the project workshops, the development of the sCOOL2walk app will be tailored to meet the unique requirements and challenges faced by each community. As the project progresses, CARNET and the sCOOL2walk consortium partners remain committed to their mission of creating sustainable, safe, and efficient transportation solutions. Together, we strive to establish a future where walking to school becomes a safer and more enjoyable experience for children and for all the community.