Rural communities pave the way for the establishment of school pathways and designated school safety areas
In a significant move towards promoting safety and active travel for children, the Ministry of Transport in Baden-Württemberg has issued a new decree to establish legal foundations for municipalities to introduce measures for safer school routes. This decree is part of the interdepartmental initiative, the Landesprogramm MOVERS - Active to School, developed by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Education.
The new decree, titled 'Guidelines for the traffic and road law implementation of school streets and school zones,' outlines legal foundations for implementing school streets and school zones. This comprehensive decree is more detailed than comparable regulations in other federal states, providing municipalities with clear guidelines on how to legally implement these measures.
School Streets and School Zones can be set up on any street whose traffic significance allows it. School Zones permanently close streets to motorized traffic, especially when the street is only needed for school use but has previously been used as a shortcut by drivers. School Streets, on the other hand, temporarily close one or more street sections near schools during specific times to motorized traffic, with exceptions made for residents or people with disabilities.
The city of Sindelfingen in Baden-Württemberg has already implemented School Zones and related traffic calming measures such as new zebra crossings and Tempo 30 zones near schools and kindergartens. This has resulted in a safer everyday environment for all residents. However, there is no detailed publicly available information from the search results about other cities in Baden-Württemberg specifically having implemented School Streets or the measurable outcomes of these measures.
Since 2022, the MOVERS - Active to School program has been supporting children and young people in making their way to school actively, safely, and independently. The program provides municipalities with practical support such as a MOVERS consulting offer and extensive information material for local implementation. For the new school year 2025/2026, school streets and the cycling proficiency badge will be added to the MOVERS - Active to School program.
Transport Minister Winfried Hermann has emphasized the importance of the Landesprogramm MOVERS - Active to School in promoting children's independence and safety in road traffic. The measures aim to ensure that children can safely walk, scoot, or bike to school while significantly reducing dangerous situations caused by parent pick-ups at school entrances.
Municipalities can also establish pick-up and drop-off zones for parents to safely drop off children without burdening the school environment with further traffic. A new MOVERS toolkit called 'Visible School Routes' will soon be presented for primary schools.
The decree invites all responsible parties to build school streets and school zones at suitable school locations. By implementing these measures, Baden-Württemberg is setting a positive example for other regions to follow, working towards a safer and more active school commute for children across Germany.
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