Pěšky do školy: Campaign encouraging kids to walk to school
September 1st marks the start of a new school year in Czechia, and for many parents, that means driving their children to school every morning, adding to already busy roads. The Pěšky do školy, or Walk to School, campaign is trying to change that by encouraging children to walk, cycle, use scooters, or public transport.
The Pěšky do školy campaign was launched ten years ago in response to growing traffic around schools. Eliška Vidomus, a spokeswoman for Pěšky městem (Walkable City), the organisation behind the campaign, says the aim was to break what she calls a vicious circle.
"We found out that the more cars are in front of the school, the worse the problem is, because more and more people see that it's not safe in front of the school, and it means that they have to take their car as well and drive their kid to school, and that's the problem."
Similar walk-to-school initiatives inspired the campaign in Britain. It began with just three schools in Prague and has since grown into a nationwide initiative, with more than 500 schools taking part last year. But, as Vidomus explains, the benefits go beyond reducing traffic.
"If kids and parents are motivated to go to school by walking, using a bicycle, scooter or public transport, the situation in front of the school becomes absolutely different. There is space for meeting, for gathering, for having breakfast together. The school is something like the heart of the neighbourhood, and it really helps build a community."
For some parents, the campaign has also challenged the idea that driving is simply the easiest option on a busy school morning. Those who have tried leaving the car at home often discover that walking has benefits they had not expected.
"Especially some parents who used to go to school by car later tell us that it was kind of a stereotype. They were used to it because the morning is difficult, they don't have enough time, they don't have time to deal with all the morning rituals, and by car it's easier and faster. But when they leave the car at home and walk, they find out that there are many benefits for them."
Teachers have noticed benefits as well, Vidomus adds, with children who walk to school arriving more awake and ready to learn.
The campaign works as a school challenge, with children collecting points for how they travel to school. The more children choose walking, cycling, scooters or public transport, the more points their school can earn.
But encouraging children to walk also means making the streets around schools safe enough for them to do so. Pěšky městem runs its Safe Roads to School programme in Prague, working with schools to identify dangerous places and find ways to make them safer. The programme has already helped change more than 100 dangerous places around Prague schools.
"The most important thing is what the environment around schools looks like. And if it's safe, if the public space is designed for walking and not only for parking, and if the place in front of the school is pleasant and not only in front of the school, but if there are safe crossroads and all these things, I think then more and more parents can let their kids walk."
Children are also involved in identifying the places that need attention, telling the organisers where they feel unsafe or where they see a danger from traffic.
Pěšky městem is also involved in organising School Streets, a separate initiative aimed at making the space immediately outside school buildings safer and more pleasant.
“Every morning, the street in front of the school is closed for half an hour to an hour using mobile barriers. Cars that really need to get in or out can still do so, but the barriers help limit the number of vehicles entering the area.”
The way School Streets are supervised can vary. During a recent work stay in Britain, Vidomus saw how the system works in practice and was particularly impressed by the role teachers can play.
"We saw it in Birmingham, where teachers from the schools took part and were called marshals. And I really like this word. I thought, well, we really need something like that, to have marshals in front of Czech schools."
