Led by: West-Vlaanderen
Location: County of West Flanders
Contact: An Paepe
Tel. +32 50403 408
email an.paepe@west-vlaanderen.be

Introduction
The project will develop bicycle mobility plans for youth within the county by the promotion of bike pooling and the identification of secure routes. Organised control groups of cyclists in coordination with the school authorities, help promote bike pooling and the use of cycling for primary school children. This initiative is supported by additional measures including secure routes to school and the consideration of spatial organisation.

It is supported by two other projects giving training about safety near trucks and ensuring the use of lights on bikes in secondary schools.

ACTIVITY UPDATES:-

Bike lights campaign - the next step: update, September 2004
During 2004 the bike lights campaign has been updated.  The poster now features a famous Flemish cyclist - Nico Mattan.  These posters are being displayed in schools and pubic buildings and the children have received a post card version.  If they return the post card, they have the opportunity to meet Nico in person.

More information can also be found on the new web site, www.tlichtaanjou.be which is designed especially for the target group for information, interaction and feedback.

Supporting both these elements of the bike lights campaign, will be a fleet of buses decorated with the familiar posters and web site.

Prevention Campaign, what truckers see from the cab - update, September 2004.   The safety campaign teaching young people to be aware of the blind spots around big trucks is proving to be a great success.  39 schools are involved with more than 1300 pupils involved in the practical exercises, and the older children receiving theory pointers too.

This year another three seminars are being organised for teachers who have already undertaken some  training, so that they will be able to give the lesson themselves.  A lorry will be made available for these lessons and all pupils will receive a didactic brochure.

Cycle buses project for primary schools, September 2004
In the first year of the project, school year 2002-2003, more schools that first expected, 21 in total, were selected by the provincial government of West-Flanders to receive support for set-up consultation and material support for improved group safety.  Other schools that organise their own cycling buses receive some material support. 

According to a survey in 2001 - 6 schools had a cycle bus; by the end of 2003 - 34 schools are now participating in the scheme.

Bike pooling project update...
The bike pooling project is a solution for congestion and problems of road safety near schools.  Children go to school by bike in small groups accompanied by some of the parents.  Although the project has found it difficult to motivate parents to accompany the children and take that responsibility.  To address this problem, some schools established a mobility team in order to find volunteers for the task. 

This project is part of the MOS school project, which wants to make pupils care for environment.  12 schools have started a bike pooling project and received financial support for consulting and material support.  A further 14 schools started a bike pool themselves, though were supported materially with fluorescent jackets, helmets.  In total 726 children and 226 pool leaders are involved.

Mobility Education report, February 2004
With Target 2 support several mobility education projects have been developed in the province of West-Flanders, as part of the general region and provincial policies to substitute car-mobility with cycle-mobility over short distances.  This support will expand its mobility education projects and offer valuable information exchange.

The  bike-pooling project makes cycling to school a safe mode of transport and aims to reduce traffic near schools.  Bike-pooling has many advantages as children learn in an active way how to behave in traffic.  It is a safe way to go to school as adults accompany small groups of children.  Bike-pooling children are no longer brought to school by car, which benefits the environment, general road safety and children's health.

In 2002-03, 12 schools adopted the bike-pooling scheme.  Provincial Government financed the consultancy to set up the scheme and offered safety helmets and florescent jackets to all participants.  Another 14 schools received all necessary material support to their own bike pool.  In 2004 another 18 schools joined the project and a further 10 have received material support.

A road safety campaign, also supported by the Provincial Government, has been set up in primary schools to make pupils aware of the dangers near trucks. Cyclists or pedestrians standing in the 'blind corner' of a lorry are the cause of at least 15 deadly accidents a year in Flanders (and more with serious injuries).  The children are made aware of the way a lorry behaves when turning a corner. They sit in the drivers seat to see exactly what the driver sees - and more importantly, what he does not see !  Exercises are carried out to show how best to act when a lorry pulls alongside a cyclist.

21 schools were selected by provincial government of West-Flanders in 2002-03, with more than 1300 pupils participating in the project.  This year 2004, another 18 schools are partaking.  Teachers are offered training in order to encourage self-organisation of these instruction sessions.  And therefore more schools and children can be reached.

People are working together....Professional consultants with an educational background have organised this campaign.  Transport companies who supply an articulated lorry sponsor them.  And the Provincial government of West-Flanders and Target 2 finance the project.
Additional information at: www.west-vlaanderen.be/infopuntfiets

The lights on bikes campaign (header image)  involves all secondary schools in West-Flanders.  Although the children have great bike they sometimes refuse to use lights.  The project highlights to the children the importance of using lights on their bikes, especially in winter and in dark periods.  

The campaign is based on prevention and policing.  To highlight the campaign posters were sent to all secondary schools and shown in public places in west-Flanders.  

All pupils themselves received a leaflet to test their behaviour in traffic.  Several schools were then visited by police officers and prevention workers to check bikes technically.  Policemen used a checklist to test the bikes, especially bike lights.  Owners of a well-equipped bike won a free cinema ticket.  Those still violating traffic regulations - got a fine!! or a warning.  Next year, this group will take a compulsory lesson on traffic rules, behaviour and social skills.