Getting to primary school safely: Important ways and rules for parents!

Getting to primary school safely: Important ways and rules for parents!

The start of school is just around the corner: On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, many children will take their first steps into primary school. In order to ensure a safe route to school, the city of Neutraubling has put together important information. Regensburger Straße is particularly affected, as it is partially closed due to a construction site at the town hall. A recommended footpath leads from the gardeners' settlement to the elementary school via the parking lot at the Haus der Gesundheit, behind the town hall to Uhlandstrasse and past the playground by the lake.

Parents and drivers are asked to park outside the school bus stop in front of the elementary school so as not to obstruct traffic. There is also a temporary ban on passage on Schulstrasse from Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The street can be accessed from the eastern side up to Gartenzeile. The city advises everyone to be considerate of one another and act as role models in traffic.

Safety on the way to school as a challenge for society as a whole

Safety on school routes remains a key concern after the summer holidays. According to a new guide developed by the Kidical Mass campaign alliance, it should be made easier for municipalities to set up car-free school streets. The guide will be presented throughout Germany as part of campaign weeks from September 16 to October 27, 2024, where the school street model, which is closed to through-vehicle traffic, is gaining in importance. More and more cities are relying on this concept, which is intended not only to minimize traffic congestion but also to increase the safety of children.

New pilot projects were launched, particularly in cities such as Dortmund and Mönchengladbach. The consolidation of these projects is imminent in Cologne. Nevertheless, some municipalities are still hesitant to implement school route safety. However, a new legal opinion and a decree in North Rhine-Westphalia are intended to create the necessary legal basis. The aim is to integrate school streets into road traffic law, similar to Austria, which could be crucial for child-friendly mobility management.

A shared commitment to safe routes to school

The commitment to safe routes to school goes far beyond individual cities. Tens of thousands of children and adults take part in actions and advocate for child- and bicycle-friendly environments. Particularly around World Children's Day from September 20th to 22nd, 2024, there will be a focus on these issues, which will fuel the movement around school routes. Comprehensive school route planning, protected cycle paths and safe crossing options are just a few essential points that must be taken into account in an overall concept.

The initiative is supported by various organizations such as ADFC, Campact and Greenpeace, which are committed to promoting child-friendly cities, and shows that school route safety is a challenge for society as a whole that requires joint action. Further information on this topic can be found on the Neutraubling, Changing Cities and RiffReporter websites: Neutraubling, [Changing Cities].