sCOOL2walk is an initiative that promotes the movement of children and young people on foot to reduce the flow of cars to schools, improve student safety and promote healthier lifestyles. The project developed a digital platform that allows pupils and their parents to plan common pedestrian routes, communicate and get to school safer. This solution was tested in three European cities: Barcelona (Spain), Siġġiewi (Malta) and Riga.
The Significance of the Project for Riga
Every morning, many families choose to take their children to school by car because they are concerned about road safety or want to ensure they get to school comfortably. This increases congestion, air pollution and creates more dangerous conditions for pedestrians. This project helps address these challenges by promoting safer and more convenient pedestrian routes.
✔ Reducing the flow of cars near schools;
✔ Improving pedestrian safety by offering parents and pupils a coordinated approach to their journey to school;
✔ Promoting the physical activity of children, which has a positive impact on health and learning abilities.
Target of the Project
Support the movement of children and young people on foot to school through a digital tool that helps parents and students plan safe and efficient routes and encourages reducing car use in school neighborhoods.
Benefits for Residents
✔ Safer Environment for students – fewer cars near schools, better organised traffic;
✔ Less air pollution – reducing the number of cars improves the city’s air quality;
✔ Children’s health and concentration capacity – more physical activity improves overall well-being and learning capacity;
✔ Easier organizing for parents – the digital tool helps plan children’s path to school with other parents.
Project Activities
✔ Selecting schools and identifying target groups in partnership with the school administration, parents and pupils;
✔ Evaluation of the infrastructure and safety of school surroundings to identify possible improvements;
✔ Workshops and surveys to understand existing problems and tailor the digital solution;
✔ Development and testing of a digital platform for easy and secure use;
✔ Compilation of data on routes used and preparation of recommendations for safer urban planning.
Testbed Territory in Riga
🔹 Riga Secondary School No. 45;
🔹 Riga Centre Humanitarian Secondary School.
Project Results
✔ Fewer students were driven by cars, which reduced car congestion outside schools;
✔ Traffic safety improved due to fewer chaotically parked vehicles outside schools;
✔ The children became more physically active, which had a positive impact on their health and concentration abilities;
✔ Identified the most popular and secure routes to schools that can be used for infrastructure improvements in the future.
Funding, Duration, and Partners
Funding source: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Urban Mobility Programme
Total project budget: EUR 377 068
Total budget for Riga:
EU funding for Riga municipality: EUR 6 664
Co-financing by Riga municipality: EUR 3 136
Implementation Period: 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2023
Project Partners: CARNET (lead partner), Barcelona City Council, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Future Mobility Network, Project Aegle Foundation, Authority for Transport in Malta, Riga City Council, VEFRESH Innovation Movement
Contact Information
Email: smart@riga.lv
Project Links
scool2walk – EIT Urban Mobility
Related Projects
