Safe and healthy cycling

De Spoorzoeker is a modern elementary school in Kerkrade West. It is located in a busy neighborhood with a lot of car traffic. That traffic poses a risk to the safety of the children.

Fewer cars = a safer environment

De Spoorzoeker is in talks with the municipality of Kerkrade to improve traffic safety around the school. It was also the municipality that tipped the school off about Cycling4School. This has led to a good cooperation of the three parties. Cycling4School stimulates students and their parents to come to school by bike more often and thus to leave the car at home. This also makes the environment around the school safer.

Ineke Spapé of Cycling4School: "In a varied week-long program, we encourage the use of bicycles in various ways. We talk to children in class about safety in traffic, which is about awareness. We also invite children to keep track of how they get to school during the action week: by bike, car or on foot. They do this using stickers. Every day you see more stickers of bicycle. Furthermore, we also have an advisory role to the municipality on what traffic measures can be taken to make the traffic situation around the school safer."

First gain already made

There is still a world to be won at the Spoorzoeker, as a measurement showed that 53 percent of elementary school students are brought to school by car by their parents. Christel Withaar: "With the action week of Cycling4School we have hopefully set the change in motion. I have seen children coming to school by bike who normally never do. That's already the first win." That positive behavior is already being rewarded with a check worth 500€ that Cycling4School and the municipality of Kerkrade are gifting the Spoorzoeker for its efforts to make the traffic situation around the school safer.

Traffic measures

Meanwhile, the municipality of Kerkrade is investigating what traffic measures can be taken to improve the traffic situation around the Spoorzoeker. In the first quarter of next year, the municipality of Kerkrade wants to set up a school zone around all Kerkrade elementary school that significantly limits the speed of car traffic around the schools. Alderman Alexander Geers (Traffic): "Children need to feel safe when they go to school. We're doing what we can to support the school in this as best we can."

Vie thought

More children and parents on bikes or on foot also fits right in with the philosophy of Vie - Living on the Move in which the municipality of Kerkrade encourages its residents to live healthier and more vital lives. "The younger you start doing that the more likely you are to want to exercise for life," Geers said.