Green School Streets: Safer crossings + shaded sidewalks around 8 Brno primary schools

Goal: make the daily walk to school in Brno safer, calmer, and cooler in summer, by redesigning the streets immediately around 8 primary schools.

What we will do

• Create School Street time windows (temporary access restriction for private cars) at morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, with clear signage and local enforcement support.

• Build 2 raised zebra crossings per school cluster (16 total) to slow cars and improve visibility.

• Widen sidewalks where feasible and add tactile paving for accessibility at key corners and bus stops.

• Add shade and comfort: 120 street trees (or large planters where underground utilities block planting), 40 benches, and 24 bicycle racks.

• Improve lighting and wayfinding with a consistent “Safe Route to School” visual language.

Why this matters

• Parents report unsafe crossings and near-misses during peak hours.

• Traffic noise and exhaust concentrate exactly where children gather.

• Heatwaves make unshaded routes uncomfortable, especially for younger kids.

How we’ll deliver

1. Co-design workshops with school communities, residents, and mobility experts (mapping pain points, selecting locations).

2. Pilot phase using low-cost tactical urbanism (paint, removable bollards, planters) to test layouts quickly.

3. Evaluation: speed measurements, counts of walking/cycling, and short surveys before/after.

4. Permanent works for the best-performing pilots, prioritized by safety impact and accessibility.

Expected results

• Lower vehicle speeds and fewer conflict points near entrances.

• More children walking/cycling and less congestion at the school gate.

• More comfortable public space with shade, seating, and clearer crossings.

Notes: exact school locations and final designs will be validated with technical services and the affected communities. If underground networks block tree pits, we will use large planters + irrigation as an interim solution.