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The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
Accreditation Toolkit
The STARS accreditation toolkit provides
STARS advisors and STARS champions
with an overview of proven approaches
and activities to inform, educate, and
raise awareness among school students
Accreditation Toolkit
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1 Introduction
1.1 What is STARS?
STARS delivers a behavioural change programme to increase the number of school pupils cycling to and
from school, who would previously have been escorted in the car. STARS focuses on delivering two
proven initiatives, building on several on-going programmes and started by some of the STARS partners:
The accreditation programme is focusing on empowering primary schools (pupils, teachers and
parents) to engage in cycling. It is different to many previous programmes because it centres on
the principle of recognition. Schools can work their way up an awards scale from a bronze to a
gold star accreditation, based on how much they are doing to promote cycling (and other modes)
and the mode shift they achieve.
Peer-to-peer engagement activities specifically target secondary school students and young
adults (11-19 years). They will be encouraged to devise their own campaigns to promote cycling,
thereby using their own ideas and solutions to persuade their peers to adopt cycling and other
sustainable modes.
The overall aim of STARS is to take the tried and tested behaviour change approaches of accreditation
and peer-to-peer engagement, and deliver it in a trans-national programme to achieve a modal shift
away from the car to cycling for the journey to and from school.
It will do this by undertaking the following:
Targeting schools that have an impact on the road network in terms of congestion, safety and
public transport delay
Guiding, encouraging and providing the tools for schools to increase cycling levels and
reduce the number of collisions involving young people
Encouraging schools to work independently as a community to commit to monitoring and
evaluating their travel activity
The STARS consortiums objective is to create a long lasting toolkit of measures which can be rolled out
to other local authorities.
Accreditation Toolkit
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1.2 How does this toolkit works?
The STARS accreditation toolkit provides STARS advisors and STARS champions with an overview of
existing proven approaches to inform, educate and raise awareness among teenagers. For each action,
the toolkit provides
an overview of the target groups
information on the main theme
a short description of the action and goals
a basic ‘how to’ overview in a maximum of five steps
contact details of the person in charge
links to websites (if available);
an illustration/ photo (if available)
Symbols indicate expenses, time needed and the complexity of the campaign or activity. Note that these
are not fixed. One idea of a campaign can be done with both low budget or high budget, can be simplified
or made more complex and a few small changes can make a great difference in time management. Be
creative and change campaigns and activities to your own desires and needs.
How expensive is the action or campaign?
How time consuming is the action or campaign?
How difficult is it to implement the action or campaign?
Little recources needed Minor time investment Easy to implement
Medium costs Medium time investment Medium degree of complexity
Expensive to implement Major time investment Complex implementation
Accreditation Toolkit
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1.3 Overview of actions
Campaigns
2.1 The Traffic Snake Game
2.2 Children Miles Campaign / Kids
on the move
2.3 Sustainable Travel and Schools
Programme
2.4 Traffic Safety Label
2.5 I-Bike
2.6 Free Wheel Time
City Actions
3.1 Car Free
3.2 Caperucita walks alone
exhibition
3.3 Hackney Bike around the
Borough
3.4 Mobility Diagnosis and Safety
plan
3.5 Cyclo-education
Accreditation Toolkit
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School Actions
4.1 Big Bikers Breakfast
4.2 Pedibus
4.3 Bike to School
4.4 Bike to school is cool
4.5 Bicibus
4.6 Drawing competition on
sustainable traffic modes
4.7 Photo competition
4.8 Road traffic regulations learning
and competition
4.9 Mobile mini cycling park
4.10 Visiting of Transport Museum
4.11 The School Policeman program
4.12 Shared cycling itinerary
4.13 Car free Day
4.14 Cycling T-shirt painting
competition
4.15 Pimp your bike competition
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Materials
5.1 Dar Pie - Film
5.2 Educate now for a more
sustainable Madrid
5.3 Mobitily and children website
5.4 Traffic adventures of Tóbiás and
Balambér
5.5 Bambini box
5.6 Bambini – On the move with
bike and kids
Accreditation Toolkit
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2 Campaigns
2.1 The Traffic Snake Game (BE - EU)
Target group: 6-12 years
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: The Traffic Snake game is a fun campaign for Primary Schools that stimulates young
children and their parents to go to school in an environmentally friendly, safe and healthy way. The
campaign consists of a game and other actions on traffic and mobility. Through the game, children and
their parents are encouraged to travel to school safely and in an eco-friendly way.
How to:
1. Children travel sustainably to school. They walk, cycle, take public transport, car share or park at
a distance from school.
2. For each sustainable trip, pupils receive a dot. These dots will be put on a sticker.
3. When the amount of dots on the sticker has reached the target, the stickers will be stuck on the
banner of the traffic snake.
4. Two weeks later the banner should be full and the children are rewarded for their sustainable
behaviour (15 minutes extra play time, no homework, a playground party, ice cream, etc.)
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.trafficsnakegame.eu
Accreditation Toolkit
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2.2 Children Miles Campaign (D)
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: The campaign demonstrates to pupils and their parents that everyone is responsible
for climate change and shows what each individual can do in daily life. The campaign helps pupils to feel
confident in traffic and to be active in traffic. Children/pupils start learning playfully about sustainability,
climate change and traffic behaviour by collecting points on each way to school (bus, metro, bicycle, foot).
The campaign can last from one to four weeks (a decision for each school individually).
How to:
1. Application by the school (template available from contact below)
2. School receives campaign materials, scrapbook, sticker, worldmap
3. School starts exercises and activities regarding sustainable travel to school (survey about mobility
behaviour, lessons about travel to school in the past or travel to school in other countries worldwide
etc. School marks its position in the worldmap, so pupils get a better understanding of complexity
of climate change when the learn about travel to school in Africa or Asia)
4. Pupils will be asked each day about their journey to school. Each sustainable journey to school will
be rewarded with one “green point” (=sticker) for the scrapbook
5. Additional: Lessons about sustainability of food (benefit of regional products) or relationship of
energy and climate
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.kinder-meilen.de/
Accreditation Toolkit
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2.3 Sustainable Travel and Schools Programme (UK)
Target group: Primary & secondary School (6 to 18 years)
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: The Programme intends to reduce the number of people travelling to school and
college by car and increase the numbers walking and cycling. The programme also aims to improve the
information to parents and pupils about the different ways they can travel to school.
How to:
1. The school nominates a travel champion who, with support from the Council, forms a school
working group and designs and implements a programme of different initiatives throughout the year
to encourage walking and cycling.
2. These initiatives include bikers’ breakfasts, WOW (Walk Once a Week / Walk On Wednesdays),
promotional assemblies, theatre performances and events about travelling sustainably, cycle
training, cycle trips, Junior Road Safety Officers and many more things.
3. Initiatives may also include new or improved infrastructure in and around the school if there’s a
specific need for it, as identified by consultation with the school community.
4. “Hands up” travel surveys are done at the start and end of the school year to show modal shift
away from the car towards more sustainable modes. Incentives are offered to schools taking part,
such as accreditation and small grant awards.
5. Schools are able to apply for grants from the Council to help support their sustainable initiatives.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.hackney.gov.uk/stp
Accreditation Toolkit
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2.4 Traffic Safety Label of Brabant (NL)
Target group: Primary School (4-12 years)
Main theme: Road safety
Short description: The Label is a road safety quality mark encouraging transportation to school by bike
and actively investigating the new bike routes when leaving primary for secondary education.
How to:
1. Schools make an activity plan with concrete actions and activities to improve the road safety of the
pupils and the school environment. This includes a focus on implementation in the school
organisation, traffic education in the lessons and in practise, the nearby school environment and
communication with parents
2. Schools implement the activities and actions. Schools score points and stars for all these actions.
3. If a schools has done enough actions they can achieve the road safety label
4. An accreditation audit will take place. An external board of auditors decides if a school achieved
the goals for the Label.
5. If a school gets the Label, the have to keep this standard of quality. After one year an accreditation
will take place again and afterwards once in three years.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.bvlbrabant.nl
Accreditation Toolkit
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2.5 IBike (UK)
Target group: Primary School and Secondary School, age 10 to 14
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: The aim of IBike is to encourage and support cycling in schools in all its forms. This
project empowers pupils through a mix of technical skills such as bike maintenance, cycle training, and
route planning so they feel confident in cycling to school. The program aims to identify and break down
barriers preventing children from cycling at both primary and secondary school level, and then uses tailored
schemes to encourage them to cycle both to school and for leisure. Since I Bike's launch, the number of
pupils regularly cycling to school has risen from 10.7% to 19.3%, while the number being driven dropped
from 23.9% to 17.2%. The 12 schools involved in the I Bike scheme have reported an increase in the
number of children cycling to class, as well as a fall in the number of those being driven.
How to:
1. Get in touch to register your interest
2. Identify an I-Bike Cycling Champion who will lead the project in your school
3. Arrange the first meeting to discuss the project and carry out a baseline survey of travel choices
4. Organise a diary of events and training – then implement
5. Repeat surveys to find out if more children are cycling to school
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://streetsaheadedinburgh.org.uk/info/26/young_people
The project is fully funded for schools taking part, schools must have a named contact that will act as the
I-bike Champion and run the project in school. They will work with our dedicated IBike Officer from City of
Edinburgh Council who provides expertise, advice, training and practical assistance on events.
One of the Beauty and The Bike Sessions run for girls
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2.6 Free wheel time (Tempo a Ruota Libera) (IT)
Target group: 6-11 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: Tempo a Ruota Libera is a project with the goal to promote a more sustainable mobility
and specifically to promote cycling. The project is divided into two sections for Primary and Secondary
School. The section dedicated to the Primary School is called "Caronno Pertusella on foot and on bike".
This section aims to communicate and raise awareness of the advantages of cycling.
How to:
1. Incentivise cycling and walking mobility in everyday routes toward services of collective interest
2. Make specific target citizens aware of the importance of sustainable mobility
3. Allow families with children aged 6-11 free lessons of safe driving to move in the traffic more
appropriately with their children
4. Introduce laws which aim to reduce bicycle theft
5. Create more safe bicycle parking in some of the town’s key points
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.caronnoprogetti.it/ruotalibera/styled-2/index.html
Accreditation Toolkit
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3 City Actions
3.1 Car Free (IT)
Target group: 6-11 years
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: Car Free is a project with the goal to develop sustainable alternatives in order to
reduce traffic and pollution around schools and to create security islands around the schools, enforcing
social relationship between parents encouraging physical activity by teaching children the skills to walk
safety.
How to:
1. Route planners identify one way streets, without public transport routes and with primary schools
and close them to traffic 8.15 to 8.45 and 16.15 to 16.45
2. Collaboration between Borough Councils (9 in Milan), schools and Local Police needed
3. In Milan, important role played by the grandfathers’ union (Nonni Amici – Grandfathers Friends)
Contact: [email protected]
Website:
http://www.milanosummerschool.it/portale/wps/portal/CDM?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/conn
ect/ContentLibrary/giornale/giornale/tutte+le+notizie+new/vicesindaco+educazione+e+istruzione+rapport
i+con+il+consiglio+comunale+attuazione+del+programma/progetto_car_free_12_nuove_scuole
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3.2 Caperucita (Little Red Riding Hood) Walks Alone (ES)
Target group: Primary School’s communities (families, teachers, pupils of 5th and 6th grade, …) and/or
neighbourhood or city entities with interest in children’s autonomy development.
Main theme: Autonomy, walking and cycling, road safety & training.
Short description: Caperucita is an exhibition talking about the adventures of a little girl who wants to
cross the city on her own to reach her grandmother's house. Through this story, children can understand
the difficulties they have nowadays for occupying public spaces. The main objective is to create an
educational tool about children's mobility and autonomy, accessible to all audiences.
How to:
1. The exhibition is available on line in a very easy format and it might be adapted or reused by other
schools. It is based on the universally-known children story of Little Red Hood. Messages are
explained through self-supporting panels in lightweight paperboard. The files can be downloaded
directly or sent to interested schools or institutions to be translated and printed locally. The only
requirement is a place to organise the exhibition and a budget for translation and printing in light
paperboard or another chosen option.
2. In Spain, the exhibition has been used as a way to start a debate within the school about autonomy
of children, fears of parents, expectations of teenagers, responsibility of teachers and schools, etc.
Normally, exhibition time is a pretext to organise expert conferences, audiovisual projections,
debates in classes or within the parent’s associations, and other related activities
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.magrama.gob.es/es/
http://www.gea21.com/proyectos/caperucitacaminasola
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3.3 Hackney Bike around the Borough (UK)
Target group: primary & secondary schools 9 years & older
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: Hackney Bike around the Borough is a mass ride for students, 9 miles around
Hackney, on roads that are open to all traffic. The aim is to promote sustainable travel, healthy and active
lifestyles, green space access and parental involvement.
How to:
1. Invite all schools to take part in a mass cycling event that takes them around their city or
municipality on roads open to traffic.
2. The municipality liaises with the police about the route and provides marshal training sessions for
volunteer adults from the schools, who will be accompanying students on the day (1 adult marshal
is required per 6 students – check your country legislation).
3. Start and finish points are identified ahead of the event. Schools join the ride at designated meeting
points along the route. All schools confirm their starting points, marshals and numbers taking part
before the event.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.hackney.gov.uk/movebybike
Accreditation Toolkit
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3.4 Mobility Diagnosis and Safety Plan (ES)
Target group: 9-19 years old pupils, families and teachers
Main theme: Walking, cycling and improving environment
Short description:
Diagnosis work of the council technical staff in collaboration with teachers, students and families. It is an
exercise of assessment and mapping that could be complemented with a lesson outside schools.
There are proposals such as reducing traffic speed limits to 30 km/h, incorporation of specific signaling,
bicycle parking, temporary school street closures during arrival and departure, or park and walk
signalized points.
Students can make Maps, photos and Reports.
How to:
1. Diagnosis made by the school community
2. Working meeting at school with parents, teachers, students and municipal staff, to evaluate the
diagnosis and visit the various problem areas identified
3. Development of proposals by the municipal technical team. Validation of the proposals submitted
by the various municipal departments concerned
4. Mobility and Safety Plan Presented to the school community
5. Execution of scheduled activities
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://eustarsmadrid.blogspot.com.es
Accreditation Toolkit
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3.5 Cyclo education (PL)
Target group: 3-18 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description:
Cycloeducation is the educational project of Krakow City of Bicycles Association. It offers free of charge
cycling lessons for all levels of education, including infants. Subject of cycling lessons:
1. The advantages of using a bicycle
2. Advice on the choice of the type of bicycle, equipment and clothing
3. Principles of safe riding and parking a bike
4. Practical advice of experienced urban cyclists
5. Sustainable transport
6. Information about bicycle culture
Up to the end of 2013 there were 75 lessons organized with participation of 1577 children / students. The
project is co-financed by Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.
How to:
1. Find interested school and set a date
2. Present PPT presentation concerning cycling (adjusted to specific age of pupils)
3. bring some extras to make it more interesting (bike, cycling bag, cycle helmets etc.).
4. Ask children to take part in the discussion and let them to ask questions
5. Bring some small prizes (eg. stickers)
Contact: [email protected]
Website: /
Accreditation Toolkit
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4 School actions
4.1 Big Bikers' Breakfast (UK)
Target group: Parents, Pupils and Staff
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: A Big Bikers' Breakfast is a campaign which aims to raise awareness of cycling as a
model of travel. The campaign rewards all pupils and staff who cycle to school with a free breakfast. The
aim is to encourage students and staff to cycle to school.
How to:
1. Before the event – set up a room or space to be used for the breakfast, and choose volunteers
(students / parents / teachers who arrive early) to help on the day. Book mechanics if also using the
event for a Dr Bike session.
2. On the day – volunteers welcome students, teachers and parents coming to school by bike and show
them where they can get their free breakfast.
3. If mechanics have been booked people can leave their bikes with them for a free 10 minute
maintenance check while they get their breakfast.
4. Log the number of people coming to school by bike that day (count as they come through the school
gate or count the number of parked bikes in the school after everyone has gone to class) so you can
monitor the success of the event. Also do counts one week before and after for comparison.
5. Take plenty of photos as evidence of the event. These can be uploaded to the relevant website to
apply for accreditation.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.hackney.gov.uk/stp
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.2 Pedibus (IT, BE)
Target group: 6-11 year
Main theme: Walking
Short description: Pedibus is a "walking school bus" participatory action that promotes mobility through
walking the journey from home to school. The children are enrolled in the walking bus organised in small
groups and they are accompanied by their parents and / or family members and volunteers to go from
home to school following pre-planned routes.
How to:
1. Inform parents and gather children and companions (parents, grandparents, neighbours, etc) to
form pedibusses.
2. Bring all information together: how many children and companions are there, which companions
can guide when? Which routes are possible, how many groups can start.
3. Make a pedibus-code for children, parents and companions: who bikes in front or at the rear, wear
fluorescent jackets, what if a child or companion is ill, etc.
4. Start walking! The first time should be a celebration.
5. Follow-up and awareness raising: do not forget to give incentives now and then to pedibusers and
their companions. Make sure to have regular feedback sessions with supervisors. Inform new
parents of the existence of the pedibus at school.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.fietspoolen.be
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.3 Bike to school (ES)
Target group: 3-11 years old
Main theme: Campaign in several Spanish cities working with schools to enhance the use of bicycles in
primary schools.
Short description: An initial experience in several schools promoted by the national cyclist federation of
associations ‘ConBici’. The aim of this educational campaign, is introducing biking in Primary school life,
from a pedagogic point of view and using the bike as a means of transport. The campaign provides a set
of activities for the different primary levels, to assist teachers working from different educational levels.
How to:
1. The project, funded by the Ministry of Environment has been finalised. Materials are ready to use
online (posters, leaflets, banner…) in all the languages used in Spain. Experiences developed in the
schools might be replicated in other cities and countries. An online tool allows you to translate the
km travellend by bicycle, car or motorbike to CO2 KG
2. Teachers can choose the tabs of teaching material organized by pupil’s age and school courses.
3. There are several options for implementing the program since it is adaptable for various issues.
4. The tabs contain teaching resources already developed, such as symbolic fines for drivers, symbolic
cyclist driver license, bike ability activities, etc.
5. It contains pedagogic guidelines for cross-curricular integration in different subjects.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://conbicialcole.conbici.org/;
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5dhor_con-bici-al-cole_shortfilms
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.4 Bike to school is cool (ES)
Target group: Primary and secondary schools (6-11 years old and 12 to 18 years old)
Main theme: Process including several bimonthly workshops in which primary teachers involved in the
STARS Europe project share knowledge about the aims of the project with cyclist’s associations, local
police, health technicians and other stakeholders.
Short description: A variant of the STARS initial methodology in which the unique kick-off Local
Workshop has been substituted for a continuous working group with bimonthly workshops for every school
Champion to share experiences, approaches and projects with the rest of involved schools. The
transmission effect has been very positive, as all of them address similar problems and there are different
experience levels between the groups.
How to:
1. Create a climate of participation in order to allow others a turn for sharing educational experiences:
speaking turns, dynamics to alternate speakers, etc.
2. Promote dynamics by subgroups which optimize the analysis of the problems and proposed solutions
3. Review the methodological part with a presentation
4. List of tasks for the next meeting
Contact: [email protected]
Website: /
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.5 Bicibus (ES, BE)
Target group: 6-11 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: Bicibus is a "cycling school bus" organised once a week or more often in some Madrid
schools, led by one or two involved teachers or parents and three or four parents. An activity is decided
on at the beginning of the week. After checking the weather, the organiser confirms the availability of
parents, and sends a message to pupils to establish the circular route with numerous stops close to the
cyclists’ homes. A route with stops and times is distributed to the pupils by email and in paper. The routes
vary every week to pick up pupils in a different order so that the same children do not always have to cycle
furthest. The roles also vary every week (the adult that open and closes the bicibus, the first child etc…).
Students cycle in couples, under clear rules to be safe in the traffic.
How to:
1. Check children’s bike ability: are they ready to ride their bikes among other motorized vehicles on
the city roads?
2. Check children’s home addresses and mark them on a map. Prepare a circular traffic route starting
at the school, visiting and stopping close to all children’s home, and finishing at the school. Print
the route with stops and times and give it to pupils.
3. Confirm parents’ availability to help with the biking route (at least 2 adults each 6 children).
4. Check the weather forecast in the previous days. Is it going to be raining? If it is, then you should
cancel the activity.
5. On the “bicibus” day: cycle safe and enjoy the early and healthy route to school!
Contact: [email protected] (ES), [email protected] (BE)
Website: http://www.conbicialzuloaga.blogspot.com.es (ES), www.fietspoolen.be (BE)
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.6 Drawing competition about sustainable traffic modes (HU)
Target group: 6-10 years old
Main theme: Sustainable traffic modes
Short description: In the primary schools, for the younger pupils the drawing competition is an
opportunity to improve their imagination about sustainable traffic modes. The topics could focus on more
specific themes e.g. cycling, walking to school, environmentally friendly traffic modes, etc. The best
drawings will be rewarded.
How to:
1. Each school announces the drawing competition for their classes
2. A theme and the deadline are agreed
3. Pupils prepare their drawings
4. Drawings are exhibited in the school
5. The best drawings are rewarded
Contact: [email protected]
Website: /
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.7 Photo competition (HU)
Target group: 11-14 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In the primary schools, for the older pupils the photo competition is an opportunity to
use their imagination and creativity to show the advantages of cycling and make it to more fashionable
among their peers. The theme of the photos should focus on cycling and the bicycle. Students are free to
decide on the presentation and message for cycling. It could be fashion, adventure, funny, etc. The best
photos will be rewarded.
How to:
1. School announces the photo competition for their classes
2. A theme and the deadline are agreed
3. Pupils make their photos
4. Photos are exhibited in the school
5. The best photos are rewarded
Contact: [email protected]
Website: /
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.8 Road Traffic Regulations learning and competition (HU)
Target group: 6-14 years old
Main theme: Road Traffic Regulations, Road Safety
Short description: During education in primary schools, the school curriculum should contain the
teaching of elementary Road Traffic Regulations. Basic rule knowledge is an indispensable criterion of the
safety traffic. To make it more playful, the students can participate in Road Traffic Regulations competition,
where the smartest pupils will be rewarded.
How to:
1. Pupils get basic road traffic regulations knowledge
2. They can complete tests to check their knowledge
3. The results of the tests can be compared between pupils and/or teams and/or classes
4. The winners will be rewarded
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.premiumrelations.hu
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.9 Mobile mini cycling park (HU, BE)
Target group: 6-11 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: The mobile mini cycling park can be set up in each primary school for several days.
It contains the borders of cycling paths, traffic signs, pedestrian crossings with traffic lights and a few
bicycles and scooters. The pupils can try the park with the chosen vehicle or as a pedestrian and use their
Road Traffic Regulations knowledge to riding safety. They can use their theoretical knowledge in practice
in a more playful and enjoyable way.
How to:
1. The mobile mini cycling park is set up in the school yard
2. Teachers teach the students the basic rules and proper clothing
3. Teachers put the visibility vest and the crash helmet on the students
4. The kids can cycle with bikes in the mini park according to the placed road signs
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://kozlekedes-biztonsag.hu/ (HU)
www.meesteropdefiets.be (BE)
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4.10 Visiting of Transport Museum (HU)
Target group: 6-14 years old
Main theme: History of the bicycle and cycling
Short description: The classes of primary schools visit the Transport Museum especially focusing on the
part of bicycle and cycling history. The children can learn many interesting things about the history and
inspire them to cycle.
How to:
1. In the context of class lessons, the teacher takes her class to the Transportation Museum
2. They get a special museum educator, who discusses the historical issues
3. They can focus on the sustainable transportation modes, especially the bicycle
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mmkm.hu/index.php/hu/muzeumpedagogia-kozlekedesi
Accreditation Toolkit
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4.11 The School Policeman program (HU)
Target group: 6-14 years old
Main theme: Road Safety
Short description: The Hungarian National Police Department has the school policeman program. Within
this concept each primary school has an assigned policeman, who regularly meets with the teachers and
students. He teaches them the basic rules of proper participation in traffic, shows them tools, and optionally
he supervises at pedestrian crossings.
How to:
1. Every primary school has an assigned policeman, who regularly meets with the teachers and
students
2. The School Policeman teaches the basic traffic rules, shows them tools, and optionally he
supervises at the pedestrian crossings
3. This program has a few events during the year (e.g. competitions), what involves school
participation.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://kozlekedes-biztonsag.hu/iskola_rendore_program
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4.12 Shared cycling itinerary (ES)
Target group: Primary and Secondary Schools (9-19 years old pupils, families and teachers)
Main theme: Cycling
Short description:
Cycling tour joined by several schools with the aim of gathering a large number of cyclists riding in the
city. The purpose of the cycling tour might be starting a STARS campaign or a different event
(celebrating European Mobility Week, joining cultural events…). Possible achievements of this tool:
1) Involving school community and several Madrid city council departments 2) Realising recreational advantages on biking 3) Encouraging parents and pupils to organize bike routes to school (bicibús) 4) Creating critical mass to raising social awareness about urban cycling
How to:
1. Find teachers and parents to guide the pupils. 2. Advertise the event among the school community 3. The group rides around the city among motorized vehicles. In order to make the route safer, traffic
calming measures could be taken by the City Council. In addition, Police on bikes could escort the group.
4. Enable a moving bike repairing workshop, in case it is needed during the route. 5. Enjoy the ride!
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://eustarsmadrid.blogspot.com.es
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4.13 Car Free School Day (BE)
Target group: 2.5 – 12 years old
Main theme: Sustainable transport modes
Short description:
For one day all children travel in a sustainable way. Fun activities are organised during the day. A car
free day can be organised in a very small, cheap and easy way or you can decide to have a larger
version of it if you have the time and resources.
How to:
1. Decide when you have the car free day.
2. You can ask the city to close the street of the school, but it is not necessary.
3. Inform parents when they are expected to travel to school without car. (For children who live far
away from school you can decide to organise a car share system for the day and/or park in a
walking distance from school).
4. Organise fun activities during the day (bicycle repair session, bike wash, shoe wax, cycle skill
course, a police man visits school, pimp your bike, pimp your high vis vest, etc.)
5. Thank everyone for the effort of traveling to school sustainably for one day.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.verkeersslang.be/publicaties/autovrije_schooldagen
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4.14 Cycling T-shirt - painting competition (PL)
Target group: 6-12 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In two primary schools a competition for cycling T-shirts has been organized. Children
were asked to paint their own T-shirts related to cycling. Prizes have been awarded for the best T-shirts.
How to:
1. Buy different coloured paints for fabrics and paintbrushes, and small prizes (one can be more
expensive)
2. Set the date
3. Ask pupils to bring their own t-shirts (in light colours)
4. Remember to bring an iron or hair dryer to make the painting permanent (washing is possible below
60 degrees).
5. Make the exhibition (with voting for the best T-shirt) or set the jury to choose the best one.
6. Reward the best (or all)
Contact: [email protected]
Website: /
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4.15 Pimp your bike competition (BE)
Target group: 6-12 years old
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: The schools organises a Pimp your Bike workshop with a contest.
How to:
1. School organises a workshop where children can decorate their bicycle with flowers, fluorescent
materials, balloons, etc.
2. A competition is organised to honour the most beautiful (safely) decorated bicycles.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.samdeverkeersslang.be
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5 Materials
5.1 Dar Pie Families & children’s autonomy. A film to debate (ES)
Target group: Primary School, community (families, teachers, pupils of 5th and 6th grade)
Main theme: Autonomy, fears and challenges in the transitional teenagers period, walking and cycling,
road safety & training
Short description: Dar Pie is a participatory video about child mobility and autonomy made by families
and directed to other families discussing, in a very fresh style, the fears and threats that parents feel
when their children ask them to go to school on their own. The principal aim of the video is to promote
changes in mobility patterns and increase child autonomy working directly with the ones who have the
key for these changes.
How to:
1. Define the aims and main issues to be addressed by the video, with the collaboration of experts,
and the school community.
2. Contact a school where the parents and teachers have a good level of understanding and
participation, and also interest in the challenge of the time when children’ desire to travel alone to
their school.
3. The video records the opinions, discussions and suggestions of a group of parents about the
children’s autonomy, highlighting their personal feelings, fears and expectations. It is a good tool
to screen a first part of a debate or round table in other schools.
4. The audiovisual is in Spanish, but can be translated, subtitled or replicated for its use in other
countries.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Ayuntamiento/Medio-
Ambiente/Educacion-ambiental/
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5.2 Educate now for a more sustainable Madrid (ES)
Target group: 3-18 years old
Main theme: Sustainable mobility and other sustainability issues within the school (health, environment,
urban agriculture, recycling resources...)
Short description: A programme developed by a group of city advisors working with many voluntary
Madrid schools working in the framework of Agenda 21 and other similar projects. On the website there
are resources and information about all the activities implemented in every school. One of the aims of this
programme is working to enhance and improve sustainable mobility to the schools. Pedibus is a "walking
school bus" participatory action that promotes walking in the journey from home to school. The children
are enrolled in the walking bus, organized in small groups with their parents and / or grandparents and
volunteers who escort thrm to school following certified itineraries.
How to:
1. Free access on line to many resources tested in former years working with Madrid schools.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.educarmadridsostenible.es/modulo/movilidad-y-cambio-clim%C3%A1tico
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5.3 Mobility and Children website (ES)
Target group: 3-18 years old
Main theme: Sustainable mobility and other sustainability issues within the school (health, environment,
urban agriculture, recycling resources...)
Short description: This themed website, included into the CENEAM web (Spanish National Centre of
Environmental Education), offers a selection of resources about environmental subjects, from an
educational point of view. It is very useful for those people working on communication, dissemination and
environmental education. It addresses concepts as the childhood autonomy, including audio-visual
resources. Bibliography, information about the activity of national networks and didactic resources.
How to:
1. Free access on line to many documents, networks, events, etc. A complete Centre of Resources
in Spanish.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/ceneam/recursos/mini-portales-tematicos/infancia-movilidad.aspx
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5.4 The Traffic Adventures of Tóbiás and Balambér (HU)
Target group: 4-9 years old
Main theme: Road Safety
Short description: The road safety program named The Traffic Adventures of Tóbiás and Balambér is a
conception that targets children about road safety. The first step of the program bares the same name The
Traffic Adventures of Tóbiás and Balambér and it is an audio book, which is a CD including tales, stories,
songs and a colouring book. The goal is to introduce the children between the age of 4-7 to road safety
and traffic awareness through the tales and tasks in relation with the stories represented in the audio book.
Policemen throughout the country passed out thousands of CDs to kindergartens and schools. The two
protagonists of the tales Tóbiás and Balambér are two nice puppies who get into different traffic situation
with their friends (sometimes into dangerous or risky situations) from which children can learn how to avoid
these situations, how to avoid danger. Meanwhile they learn the way to get about as a pedestrian, how to
cross a road or a level crossing, how to ride a bicycle properly, how to ride a bus, among others. They
learn all these things playfully, in an entertaining environment.
How to:
1. The schools receive the CD (www.premiumrelations.hu) and the classes listened it
2. A teacher of the program visit the schools and present a playful interactive lesson to a class
3. The games are based on the 2 main character of CD (Tóbiás and Balambér) and the Road Traffic
Regulations
4. The main goal of the lesson is to playing with the kids, and they learn the rules unnoticed
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.premiumrelations.hu
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5.5 Bambini box (BE)
Target group: To be adapted to the desired age range
Main theme: Education materials and games on sustainable transport
Short description: The Bambini box is a box full of materials and games on sustainable mobility. The box
contains toys, books, educational materials, etc. to support teachers to introduce the theme of sustainable
mobility in class.
How to:
1. Compile a box full of materials on sustainable mobility for children: puzzles, toy buses and trains,
(picture) books on the topic, image’s boards (picture studies), parts of a bicycle (bells, chain,
pedals, etc.), video’s, play road signs, etc.
2. The box can go from class to class, school to school and has enough materials to work for one
week on the topic of sustainable mobility with very young children.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mobiel21.be/nl/content/bambini-box-een-activiteitenkoffer-met-vernieuwende-
idee%C3%ABn
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5.6 Bambini – On the move with bike and kids (BE)
Target group: parents of 0-6 years old
Main theme: Cycling with young children.
Short description: The brochure On the move with bike and kids was developed in the BAMBINI project
and gives an overview of all kinds of possibilities to cycle with children between 0 and 6 years old.
How to:
1. Print the leaflet :
http://www.mobiel21.be/sites/default/files/Bambini%20On%20the%20Move%20with%20Bike%20
and%20Kids.pdf
2. Give it to parents of young children during Car free days or campaign weeks at school.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mobiel21.be/en/content/bambini-move-bike-and-kids
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6 ELTIS PROJECTS
This chapter includes short descriptions of projects to be found on www.eltis.org. All projects are walking
and/or cycling campaigns or actions targeting primary schools.
6.1 New School Pupils
Target group: Primary School and Parents
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In the framework of the SEGMENT project, a 'New School Pupils’ campaign was
carried out among children starting primary school and their parents in order to encourage them to reduce
car use and walk more when travelling to school. The campaign contained a 'walking bus" and WOW
(Walk Once a Week).
Contact: Alicja Pawłowska Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3579
6.2 Travel Active Project
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: When the funding for the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places
(SCSP) programme was announced, the City of Dundee took the opportunity to use transport interventions
to address one of the most pressing problems of the city: the poor public health of its residents. Dundee’s
funding bid was successful and Dundee Travel Active (DTA) was launched with the overall aim to increase
levels of active travel. Dundee City Council's ‘Travel Active Project’ uses transport interventions to improve
the environment and address the poor public health of its residents, by encouraging them, or visitors to
Dundee, to walk or cycle a little more in order to improve the physical health and mental wellbeing of
residents of and visitors to Dundee.
Contact: Neil Gellatly: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3697 http://visuals.sdgworld.net/temp/dundeetravelactive/about.asp
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6.3 On the bikes – get set – go
Target group: Primary School, Parents
Main theme: Walking and cycling
Short description: In the framework of SEGMENT, the city of Munich addressed a "life changing moment": when pupils change from primary to secondary school. Munich wanted to get as many pupils as possible to stay on bikes when they change to the secondary school. The campaign addressed parents as well as pupils. The main objective of this initiative is to encourage these pupils to cycle and to do so on roadworthy bikes. Specifically, the project aims to encourage children not only to cycle more often to school but also to cycle in their leisure time and to get used to this sustainable transport mode as part of their lifestyle. For safety reasons it is important to involve parents so they will allow their children to cycle independently. A final objective was to develop a cost effective campaign that could continue after the funding from the IEE-programme expired. Contact: Kerstin Langer: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3673 http://www.radlhauptstadt.muenchen.de/radlhauptstadt-news/details/article/auf-die-raeder-fertig-los-pilotprojekt-an-muenchner-grundschulen-gestartet/
6.4 The Great Cycling Exam
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In early 2012 the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge launched its brand new
project - the Great Cycling Exam. Sixth grade primary school classes are offered a ready-made package
with tools and communication materials, to organise a local level cycling exam in real traffic. With the Great
Cycling Exam, the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge offers a ready-made package that schools
can easily use to organise a local cycling exam. The package includes customised material and a website
with preparatory training sheets and forms for final evaluation. The exam essentially marks and helps
prepare pupils for the big move to a higher level of education (in Flanders primary school is age 6-12,
secondary school is age 13-18). This is both a mental and physical shift; students in Flanders often cycle
independently to secondary school, usually further away from home than primary school.
Contact: Ans De Cnodder: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3518 http://www.hetgrotefietsexamen.be/
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6.5 The Great Traffic Test
Target Group: Primary School, Parents
Main Theme: Traffic Education
Short description: Through the Great Traffic Test (Grote Verkeerstoets), the Flemish Foundation for
Traffic Knowledge supports primary schools and parents in traffic education. Because of gradually
increasing traffic, children need more and more skills to manage themselves safely and independently in
traffic. Teachers, schools and parents are a most important link in that learning process. As a teacher or
parent the Traffic Test provides pupils with an insight into what the children already know about functioning
well in daily traffic. It also suggests what traffic rules and skills they still need to learn and give some special
attention to, as an immediate result of the test.
Contact: Ans De Cnodder: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3517 http://www.verkeerstoets.be/
6.6 Traffic parents
Target group: Primary School, Parents
Main theme: Walking and cycling, Road Safety
Short description: Since 2004, the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge has created a support structure for the many volunteers that promote safe and sustainable traffic at schools. These volunteers now benefit from a vast pool of shared knowledge and practice. Traffic Parents are adult volunteers who promote road safety and traffic skills amongst pupils. The tasks of traffic parents can be very diverse and include helping with, or even (co-)organising traffic initiatives in school, supporting teachers in practical traffic lessons, guiding schoolchildren in traffic, and acting as authorised supervisors (‘gemachtigde opzichter’). The safety of pupils is not just the responsibility of the school board and the teachers, but also that of the parents. By collaborating, it is possible to achieve more! Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://verkeersouders.be
http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3476
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6.7 Kyle Cycling Project
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In 2009-10, a wide range of projects were introduced by South Ayrshire’s road safety
section to encourage active travel. These included the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, through which 41
out of 45 primary schools in South Ayrshire carry out cycle training annually, and active travel initiatives
such as Walk Once a Week, Travelling Green, pedometer projects, active travel workshops and initiatives
for individual schools.
Contact: Wendy Mitchell
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3410
6.8 My dream public transport
Target group: Primary school
Main theme: Public Transport
Short description: The municipality of Žilina held a creative competition for primary school children,
dedicated to the theme “My dream public transport”. The children’s art works were displayed in municipal
premises as well as on public transport vehicles. This activity was implemented within the framework of
the BENEFIT project, as part of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The objective of this activity
was to improve the image of public transport by introducing an interesting and unusual promotional activity.
The city wanted to use children’s talent to convey the message that public transport is a safe and
comfortable way of travelling in the city. Given children’s and young people’s reliance on public transport,
it is essential to involve them in decisions concerning this important issue.
Contact: Katarína Wecková: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=3133
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6.9 Vélobus
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: In 2002, the Greater Nantes Region initiated the project ‘Vélobus’ or cycling school
bus in four primary schools where they started 20 cycling school buses. By 2006, cycling school buses
were being organised in 30 schools in the Greater Nantes Region involving 762 school children. In order
to reduce air pollution and traffic jams in school surroundings and to improve children’s physical condition,
independence and traffic safety along school routes, the Greater Nantes Region promotes the introduction
of cycling school buses or ‘Vélobus’.
Contact: Ademe Pays de la Loire : [email protected]
Website: http://www.nantesmetropole.fr http://www.nantesmetropole.fr/medias/fichier/304_2008__1208360467750.pdf?INLINE=FALSE
http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=1585
6.10 Master on the bike
Target group: Primary School
Main theme: Cycling
Short description: With increased motorised traffic, riding a bicycle is becoming less and less an evident
mode of transport in many European urban cities. ‘Master on the bike’ tackles this by bringing basic as
well as real-life traffic cycling skills to young children.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.meesteropdefiets.be/voorstelling http://www.eltis.org/index.php?id=13&study_id=1162
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Deliverable No. 2.3
Title Accreditation Toolkit
Work Package WP2: Development and Knowledge transfer
Author(s) Lies Lambert
Status (D: draft; F: final) D
Date April 2014
Revision History October 2013 (Partners)
January 2014 (Advisory Board)
March 2014 (Partners)
April 2014 (Partners)
The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
Appendix 1:
Activities: How-to Guide
This guide brings together a range of activities that can be used by schools and early adopter cities looking to implement STARS. All of the activities outlined in this
document can be adopted according to the cities or schools goals, target groups and
budgets available.
STARS Europe – Appendix 1: Activities: How-to Guide.
1. Introduction
Incentives
Competition
Symbols
Closing the activity
2. Activities
Car Free Day
Moral Fines
Mini-cycle Challenge
Kiss and Ride – Red Carpet
Cyclist breakfast
Teacher Workshops
Bike T-shirt painting competition
School Streets
Ditch your Stabilisers
Introduction: This guide brings together a range of activities that can be used by schools and early
adopter cities looking to implement STARS. The aim of these activities is to promote the use of
sustainable modes of transport to school, to foster a positive attitude towards active travel in
children, and at the same time encourages parents and families to reconsider how they travel. In
addition, it supports goals to cut congestion and decrease emissions.
Incentives: The use of incentives/rewards is used in the majority of the activities outlined below. The
positive effect of rewards generating the desired change in behaviour has been psychologically
proven. Incentives and rewards do not need to be high in cost. For example, certificates for
participants at an award ceremony. In addition, if rewards are given it is recommended that they
support the goal of the activity.
Competition: The added element of a competition can lead to an increase in motivation and
achievement. However, it is important to recognise the achievement of all participants that are
making a switch from car use towards other sustainable modes of transport when travelling to
school.
Closing the Activity: Once an activity has been completed it is important to review successes,
challenges and lesson learnt. In addition, activities are a good opportunity to gather data and
information from cyclists.
Transferability: It is important to note that all of the activities listed below can be adopted according
to the cities or schools goals, target groups and budgets available.
Symbols: Symbols indicate expenses, time needed and the complexity of the campaign or activity.
Note that these are not fixed. One idea of a campaign can be done with both a low or high budget,
can be simplified or made more complex and a few small changes can make a great difference in
time management. Be creative and change campaigns and activities to your own desires and needs.
How expensive is the action or campaign?
How time consuming is the action or campaign?
How difficult is it to implement the action or campaign?
Little recources needed Minor time investment Easy to implement
Medium costs Medium time investment Medium degree of complexity
Expensive to implement Major time investment Complex implementation
Activity: Car Free Day
Target Group: Staff and Parents
Purpose: Encourage staff and parents that are consistent car drivers to consider other modes of
transport for their journeys.
Description: The aim of the Car Free Day is to challenge staff and parents to abandon the car for a
day in favour of walking and cycling. It may be especially useful in schools where car levels are high,
there is a driving culture in the staffroom or where people are resistant to change.
A Car Free Day can be done in multiple ways, but works best when some form of incentive is offered
to encourage those who normally drive to try an alternative way of travelling. It is important to work
with motivating elements within a school, such as Cycling Champions, who will encourage their
colleagues and parents to get involved. It is important to work with enthusiastic stakeholders within
a school, such as Cycling Champions, who will encourage their colleagues and parents to get
involved
Since the Car-Free Day can exist in many forms it is important to have grants ready in order to
support initiatives in schools. These grants are usually small financial contributions from the
municipality so that a school can create posters to promote a ‘car-free zone around a school or
award prizes for staff members or families that cycle to school.
Step By Step Method:
1. Disseminate the message and idea of the Car-Free Day and offer grants to motivated school
contacts, who can act as a ‘champion’ for their school.
2. Start the application period and assess viable Car Free Day initiatives.
3. Support schools to realise the full potential of the Car Free Day by providing general help.
4. The school should be in charge of the successful execution of the activity.
5. Evaluate the project and maintain contact details – ensure that the school adds evidence to
the STARS website
Case Study: Wentworth Nursery School
Kym Foley, Wentworth: “We did the staff biking
social after car free day and everyone loved it.
People want to do it every month now....”
This school has organized a Car Free Day in 2014
targeted at staff. While the school regarded itself as
sustainable and for example offered bike classes to
three/four year-olds, almost all staff members
commuted by car. By creating a team building event
around the bicycle, this school was able to generate
more interest in cycling.
Activity: Moral Fines
Target Group: Primary School students
Purpose: To raise awareness among parents parking illegally and the impact this can on have on
road safety.
Description: The moral fines activity draws the attention of car drivers parking illegally and the risk
it poses to pedestrians. This activity is suitable for schools or cities that particularly experience a
problem with parking. Children were asked to invent fines for drivers parking illegally; the fines were
then placed onto the vehicles by students in order to raise awareness of the issue. The activity can
be carried out by a large number of students at the same time. In addition, the activity can also
include a competitive element with rewards for the best of funniest fine.
Step by Step Method:
1. Provide students with the equipment needed to create fines; pens and papers.
2. Once the fines are completed make copies of the original for distribution.
3. Students should be split into small groups accompanied by a teacher.
4. They should place the fines on car windows parking illegally around the immediate vicinity of
the school.
Case Study: The moral fines activity was
carried out in several primary schools in
Milan; particularly in the Milan’s
metropolitan area. The activity proved to be
a success, with students enjoying
participating and pretending to be traffic
policeman. In addition, the activity raised
awareness of the issue of cars being parked
illegally.
Translation: “Next time you’ll park here, I’ll have to
give you a fine, that’s you have to bring to our
school 25 feathers of a hen”.
Activity: Mini-Cycle Challenge
Target Group: Primary School Students
Purpose: Encourage pupils and parents to try alternative modes of transport (cycling, walking and
scooting) for school trips over a prolonged period of time.
Description: The mini-cycle challenge is a competition which encourages students and parents to
cycle to school. The number of trips to school by bike is recorded for each student and the student
with the highest number of journeys recorded at the end of the activity is awarded for the
accomplishment. To record participation students are provided with an album and for every school
journey taken by bike they receive a sticker to add to the album. At the end of the challenge the
results for each student are published and awards/prizes are given to the students who have taken
the highest number of trips by bike.
Step by Step Method:
1. Plan the ideal period for mini-cycle challenge at the beginning of school year. It is
recommended that the activity is held just after the summer break or in the spring months
when the weather conditions are likely to be good for cycling.
2. Prepare stickers and albums.
3. Promote the competition in school. Use the school radio, posters, the school website and
direct communication via teachers.
4. It is important to inform parents of the event and communicate why the action is so
important. This challenge is not only for children, it is also for parents to try to change their
travel habits.
5. Choose the person that will be responsible for action and rewarding stickers to participants.
6. Publish the results and scores.
7. Award best riders during a school academy or special event.
Case Study: Four schools in Krakow participated in
the mini-cycle challenge during the 2014/2015
school year.
Primary School No 1: The completion was organised
for students in the three youngest grades in October
2015. Fifteen students travelled to school by bike for
the whole period of the challenge and were
presented with prizes. Organisers of the event noted
that parents were fully engaged with the initiative
and travelled with their children by bike to school.
Activity: Kiss and Ride – Red Carpet Project
Target Group: Primary School Students
Purpose: To reduce congestion by dropping schoolchildren at a specific spot away from the school
and let them walk the rest of the way.
Description: The red carpet activity was undertaken in the city of Bielefeld by schools facing
problems with heavy congestion around the immediate vicinity of the school. The activity supports
the goal of promoting sustainable modes of transport by children and parents travelling to school as
well as the issue of congestion. In order to reduce congestion around the school a designated site
away from the school is identified for parents to drop-off their children who are then walked the rest
of the way to school by teachers or volunteers. In order to promote the activity, in the City of
Bielefeld, children were welcomed by a costumed person on a red carpet. The person greeting the
student wore a different costume every day so that students were excited to see what the next
costume would be. In addition, incentives were used to increase participation and award
participation. To record participation students were given a card at the start of the week which was
stamped each time they used the drop-off site, at the end of the week students who had collected
three or more stamps were rewarded with a reflector mouse.
Step By Step Method:
Organising the activity
1. Assessment of the traffic situation around the school with representatives from the school and
local authority.
2. Determine an ideal site for a drop-off stop and the route from the site to school. When
choosing the site the following measures should be considered:
Distance: The ideal site should be 50-500 metres from the school
Safety: An assessment of the route and any risks should be considered.
Parking: The drop-off site will need to have parking areas for parents to drop children off.
3. Plan promotional materials and signs for the drop-off site. It is important that drop-off sites
are easily recognisable to parents and students.
4. Prepare the pathway from drop-off site to school; this could include lining the route with
posters made by students.
5. Prepare cards and stamps to record participation.
6. Communication of the event with parents and other key stakeholders.
7. Official opening of the drop-off site.
Case Study: Primary Schools Altenhagen, Am Homersen, Heeperholz and Wellbach took part in the
campaign. In order to promote the activity children were welcomed by a costumed person on a red
carpet. The person greeting the student wore a different costume every day so that students were
excited to see what the next costume would be. In addition, the borough mayor and three
headmasters personally welcomed the first parents who arrived at the parent stations close to Am
Homersen Primary School.
Activity: Cyclists Breakfast
Purpose: Reward pupils, parents and staff who cycle to school every day and allow them to provide
feedback on facilities for cyclists and any other issues they may experience.
Description: The Cyclist Breakfast rewards all pupils and staff who cycle to school with a free
breakfast. The programme presents a fun opportunity to stimulate cycling and reward cyclists. The
event takes place outdoors in the school grounds, providing a visual spectacle for non-cyclists as well
as regular cyclists. In addition, Cyclists’ breakfast is a good opportunity to survey cyclists’ needs
regarding the school environment.
Step by Step Method:
1. Recruit volunteers to organise the event: The group of volunteers should include both pupils
and teachers.
2. Determine the budget for providing breakfast. The budget will also determine the size of the
target group.
3. Determine the target group: The target group is usually students and staff at the school but
could also include parents of students.
4. Determine the most suitable time and place to hold the activity. It is recommended that the
activity is held in the spring months when the weather conditions are likely to be good for
cycling.
5. Promotion of Activity: The school should promote the event to their community through
posters, assemblies, newsletters or other relevant channels. Depending on the objectives a
decision can be made whether to announce the event beforehand or keep it as a surprise.
6. Preparation of school infrastructure: Ensure the infrastructure to store bikes is available.
7. Ordering breakfast: A decision needs to be made on the type of breakfast provided and
potential dietary requirements of participants.
8. Collect data and opinions from cyclists on their needs and facilities available.
Case Study: A cyclists’ breakfast was organised on 20
May 2015 in front of the school gym building where
two teachers and a student welcomed the cyclists.
Pastries and hot tea were waiting for the cyclists,
while the good mood was also supported by music in
the morning. This was the first cyclists’ breakfast
event at the school and 30 cyclists participated. The
event drew the attention of many pupils to cycling
and future events will be held to encourage more
students to participate.
Activity: Teacher Workshops
Target Group: Secondary and Primary School Teachers
Purpose: Create a network of teachers and key stakeholders promoting cycling and other
sustainable modes of transport to school as well as sharing experiences, lessons learnt and
challenges across the network.
Description: Workshops for teachers and key stakeholders were set up in order to create a network
where experiences, strategies, resources and dissemination tools could be shared across schools
participating in the STARS programme. The key objective of the activity is to create a network
around educational mobility, to maintain involvement and contact between all actors in the
programme and to ensure that feedback and lessons learnt are incorporated through the projects
life. Key stakeholders can include cyclists associations, local police and health technicians. The
activity is aimed at both primary and secondary schools and is a key tool for introducing new schools
to local sustainable transport initiatives and provides the necessary support for schools promoting
cycling and other forms of sustainable transport for the first time.
Step by Step Method:
1. Determine the frequency of meetings and location. It is important to provide the dates of the
workshops far enough in advance to ensure teachers are able to authorise leave to attend.
2. Provide an agenda for the first meeting. Future agendas should be considered by all
participants.
3. Consider the environment needed to allow all participants to get involved and facilitate the
transfer of information. For example, it may be worth considering having subgroups for
primary and secondary school teachers for part of the workshop. In addition, partners in
Madrid noted that practical workshops are best for encouraging participant.
4. Invite speakers from other key stakeholders involved in the programme
5. Minutes of meetings are important to allow for reflection and to ensure lessons learnt are
recorded for future use.
6. Consider an online tool such as a shared Google Drive for sharing resources and key contacts.
7. The final meeting should review the implementation of the programme over the year and
reflect on lessons learnt, challenges and areas of improvement.
Case Study: The Teachers Workshop was introduced by partners in
Madrid. All schools enrolled in the STARS programme participated in
the workshops.
Teacher participating noted: ‘knowing what others are doing and
what works for them helped us design more activities that are
increasingly successful’.
Activity: Bike T-shirt Painting Competition
Target Group: Primary School Students
Purpose: To encourage pupils to think about cycling as a mode of transport to school. The activity is
used to support other events promoting sustainable modes of transport to and from school.
Description: The bike T-shirt competition allows pupils to design and paint their own t-shirts related
to cycling with a prize given for the best T-shirts. The activity indirectly promotes sustainable modes
of transport to school, fostering a positive attitude to active travel in children. The activity can be
used as an introduction to other events with pupils wearing their T-shirts to other cycling events. It is
suitable for winter months in countries where it is difficult to cycle during the whole year.
Step by Step Method:
1. Buy different coloured paints for fabrics and paintbrushes (colourful markers are also helpful), and
small prizes (one can be more expensive).
2. Set the date for competition.
3. Invite class while it is during the lessons. If competition time is set after lessons you may ask all
interested pupils from one school.
4. Ask pupils to bring their own t-shirts (in light colours).
5. Remember to bring an iron or hair dryer to make the painting permanent (washing is possible below
60 degrees).
6. Organize the exhibition (with voting for the best T-shirt) or set the jury to choose the best one.
7. During next bike activities ask children to wear their T-shirts.
8. Reward the best pupils (or all).
Case Study: All primary schools participating in schools during the 2014/15 school year organised a bike
T-shirt painting competition.
Primary school no 64:
Pupils were asked to paint road signs on their T-shirts. The best T-shirts were awarded during a meeting
with policemen.
Primary school no 144:
In school no 144 pupils painted their favorite pictures related to cycling. Almost 80 children took part in
competition.
Activity: School Streets Project
Target Group:
Purpose: To reduce congestion around the school and improve road safety by encouraging walking
and cycling.
Description: The aim is to reduce traffic on the street immediately outside the school gates by
restricting the times when cars can be driven. An exclusion zone around the immediate vicinity of
the school is set and cars are banned from driving on these streets for an hour at the beginning and
end of the school day. This is controlled by special lighted signs that flash when the closure is in
operation.
Step by Step Method:
1. ‘School Streets project’ is agreed and publicised in the school to
Parents and children
Head Teacher and other interested parties in school
Residents and businesses in the street
Residents and businesses in the wider area that might be affected by dispersal of
Case Study: Colinton Primary School in Edinburgh had an on-going congestion problem at the gates and
although the school had been very proactive in asking parents not to drop their children so close to the
school this generally had no effect.
The Road Safety Team took care of the legal and construction parts of the project, and the school assisted
in communicating with parents to let them know of the change.
On the day of the launch the school had a superhero walk to school day and traffic was reported to be
much lighter.
Since the launch the roads around the school have been much quitter and an increase in walking has been
seen.
The campaign has been generally well received across the five school participating and there has only
been a few cases of drives having to be turned away. The main comments have been how lovely and
quiet the roads outside the school are.
Activity: Ditch your stabilisers
Target Group: Primary School Students
Purpose: To get younger children between the ages of 3 and 5 riding their bikes confidently without
stabilisers.
Description: The aim of the activity is to promote sustainable modes of transport to school by
increasing confidence in student’s ability to ride on the road to school. The activity provides training
to pupils on how to cycle without stabilisers. Training is carried out in a safe off-road environment
with no access allowed for motor vehicles. Parents/Guardians or staff are present to learn the
Step by Step Method:
1. Event date for ‘ditch your stabilisers’ is agreed and publicised in the school to
Parents and children
fundamental skills along with their children and helps to encourage parents and families to
reconsider how they travel.
Case Study: Forthview Primary School in Edinburgh held a ‘Ditch your stabilisers’ workshop in the
playground at school. Pedals were removed from each of the bikes and these were carefully stored in
carrier bags labelled with the child’s name and class.
The first ten minutes were spent learning how to free wheel and balance on the bike. A length of
playground was marked out with chalk with a start line and end line.
Children were told that if they fell off they were to immediately get up again and high five the instructor.
Pedals were then reattached to the bikes and students were to do a big ‘TIGER PUSH’ at the start to get
them away, then to begin pedalling. Slowly they became used to balancing and pedalling at the same
time. At the end of the session, around an hour later they could all pedal around the playground without
any help.
Tips for Learner Cyclists
Learning without stabilisers improves how fast children learn. Instead of stabilisers, start without pedals
and get them to use their bicycle like a balance bike.
1. Start without pedals:
- Scoot along with feet together
- Feet should be flat on the ground
- Ensure the saddle is at the correct position
- Practice putting the feet up to balance while ridding
- Keep head up and look straight ahead.
2. Put the pedals on:
- Your child is ready to move to pedals when they scoot their bicycle and hold their feet in the
air for at least 2 seconds.
- Teach them start with a big push, with the pedals at 3 o’clock
- Look straight ahead, not at feet
- Don’t hold the saddle, support with a hand on their back and a light hold in handlebars.
- Remove your hands from handlebars first, and then their back.
- Falling off their bike is normal, ensure the children are aware of this and encourage them to
get straight back on
- Don’t move to pedals until they can balance.
Deliverable No.
Title Activities: How-to Guide
Work Package WP2: Development and Knowledge transfer
Author(s) Kate Mouncher, LEPT
Status (D: draft; F: final) F
Date October 2015
Revision History /
