Safe mobility to school: design, implementation and validation of strategies for the active mobility of children to school

In Ecuador, the dispersed urban development focused on mobility in private car has negatively impacted active mobility (on foot and by bicycle) ignoring its importance in social interactions, social and cultural meanings that characterize displacement in the city. This impact is especially strong in the child population since active mobility is its only form of autonomous displacement, mainly to attend school, and because it puts their health at risk by producing contaminated and obesogenic urban environments. In Ecuador, road accidents is the second cause of death in children between 5 and 12 years of age, and overweight and obesity are a public health problem that affects 1 in 3 children. In the specific case of the city of Cuenca, it has been proven that the urban environment does not meet adequate conditions for the safe mobility of children, and disabled people. Safe school routes programs have proven effective solutions when children are included in planning and design processes. This project proposes to develop, implement and evaluate proposals for safe school routes through tactical urbanism interventions in 4 public schools in the urban area of Cuenca. Other project results include a guide with strategies based on scientific evidence for urban interventions that meet the specific needs of children and the awareness of the community about the importance of active mobility to school.

2nd UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH-LINKAGE PROJECTS