Budapest Is Making Sure that School Starts Smoothly and Safely

As summer is coming to and end it will surely bring a relief to many parents but some worries as well: how will the kids get to school safely? Budapest wants to make sure that everyone gets to school safe and sound, so they launched a cool program called “School-Zone”. It’s been making waves and keeping kids safer on their way to school. Let me give you the scoop!

The Budapest Transport Center (BKK) kicked off this program last year, joining forces with Budapest Public Roads, the MOME Innovation Center, and local governments. Their mission? To create a safer and more organized environment for students around selected schools in the city.

They’ve been pulling out all the stops to make this happen. We’re talking about traffic interventions, parking regulations, new road markings, and attention-grabbing tools. They’ve even set up reduced speed zones and introduced special “Kiss and Ride” drop-off points. How cute is that?

The program is all part of BKK’s bigger plan to boost road safety. They’re aiming to cut the number of traffic fatalities in half by 2030 and bring it down to zero by 2050. Talk about ambitious goals!

Last fall, three schools – two in District IV and one in District XVII – were the first to benefit from these safety improvements. And get this: the feedback has been awesome! Students, parents, and school staff have totally embraced the new traffic arrangements.

In fact, when they did surveys, more than half of the folks said they changed their commuting habits for the greater good. Plus, people are feeling way safer getting around the school areas now. Some even ditched their cars for greener transportation options. That’s a win-win!

But wait, there’s more! This September, the program is expanding to include the Kőbányai Harmat Elementary School in District X. The local government is revamping the nearby Kada alley, which is the perfect opportunity to create an even safer environment for students.

They’ll be adding traffic calming elements to improve pedestrian connections between the school and the housing estate. And those handy “Kiss and Ride” spots? They’ll be set up right next to the school for quick and safe drop-offs.

So, there you have it – the inside scoop on Budapest’s “School-Zone” program. It’s all about keeping kids safe, reducing stress, and creating a more organized environment around schools. Kudos to everyone involved for making it happen!

Image source: cacor