From: r.smith@... [mailto:r.smith@...]

Hi Eric

I've forwarded your last e-mail communication to Jacky Kennedy (Toronto)
and Lauren Marchetti (US SRTS Director) for wider dissemination via the WTS
grapevine. Although I no longer chair the IWALK Committee I keep a keen eye
on what is happening and act in an advisory capacity now and then.

Thought I would share one of our experiences of how mass funding on SRTS
projects doesn't always have the desired effect, but a misguided decision
by school governors does.

A couple of years back our authority spent a small fortune on providing a
length of around 1km on a new off-road walkway/cycleway linking a rural
village with its market town neighbour. (We actually worked out it was 999
small steps in length from the nearest home to the school gate). I had a
field day with the media - 999 steps to a healthy heart etc.

The main road route was particularly "dangerous" with no pedestrian or
cyclist facilities. The new off-road facility ran alongside the main road
but was separated by a 6 foot high hedge. Most parents said they would let
their children use the facility if it was connected, convivial, comfortable
and most importantly, convenient.

The village school has 100 students and almost all reside in the market
town. Previously, all the children were driven to school, but since the
creation of the footway/cycleway link a small number now walk or cycle to
school in the mornings, as long as the weather is fine and dry. If wet,
they are still driven. The afternoons are interesting. Most children are
still driven home but about half a dozen parents put their children's bikes
in the back of the car and carry them to the school where they are unloaded
for the children to cycle home. The parents then drive home on the main
road where they can see their children cycling alongside off-road. (Gaps
had to be created in the hedge line to ensure the children were still
visible.) Both parent and child arrive home at the same time - one on two
wheels and one on four. Apparently these parents don't have time to follow
them to school in their cars in the morning. They still feel there are too
many personal security issues to allow them to walk or cycle alone or even
in small groups even though the off-road facility is perfect for this.

The UK govt recently offered schools pump-priming funding to set up walking
buses. Sad to say, this school did not take up the offer. If the school
charged the parents £1 a time to drive into and park in the school car park
every morning and afternoon, I calculate it would take about 15 years to
recoup the costs of the off-road facility.
These cash-rich, time-poor parents have recently had an incentive to
continue to drive to the school - the school governors decided to extend
the school car parking facility for parents as it was getting too
congested!

Hearts and minds or sticks and fines?

By the way, the Stockholm Sustainable Cities Award currently resides
temporarily in New Zealand, on its round the globe tour.

Take care!

Robert


Robert Smith
Team Leader, Network Traffic Safety
Environment Directorate
Dorset County Council
County Hall
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1XJ
UK
TEL: 00 44 (0)1305 224680
FAX: 00 44 (0)1305 224771
e-mail: r.smith@...
http://www.dorsetcc.gov.uk/rsafe


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