Dublin's traffic authorities hope to encourage parents to walk children to school in September in an effort to reduce morning traffic congestion.
Parents are being asked to organise "walking buses" which involve two nominated parents walking up to 20 primary pupils from their area to the school, by the Dublin Transportation Office and Dublin Corporation. The local authority is assisting parents in two schools in Clontarf to introduce the concept in the second week in September.
Belgrove boys and girls schools on Seafield Road, which have 1,000 pupils between them, will also have "safety zones" created around their gates where pa rents in cars will be prohibited from stopping. The zones will cover 40 metres around the gates. Gardai will be present to ensure the zones are not breached. Dublin Corporation says if the zones prove successful they will be introduced to other schools. "Walking bus" schemes are widespread in Britain, and the DTO and Dublin Corporation believe their success could be repeated here.
According to a Dublin Corporation spokesman, the initiative is being taken because parents driving children to school account for approximately 25 per cent of morning rush hour traffic.
It hopes the response from parents in Clontarf will prompt other schools to adopt the idea. The "walking bus" is organised by parents taking turns to lead it each day. Children along a road or estate are picked up at a specific time, put their bags in a large trolley and walk to school in the group.
"The concept is meant to be fun, often the children put on little jackets and when they are `getting on the bus', they are given a sticker which they can exchange for sweets at the school, and many of them enjoy the regimentation of the arrangement," says Mr Michael Ahern, a spokesman for the DTO.
He says the DTO will be providing funding and an information pack to parents in other schools who adopt the idea over the next year.