Lünen Launches Pilot 'Temporary School Street' for Safer Routes
The city of Lünen has launched a pilot project to enhance school safety, starting with the establishment of a 'temporary school street' at the Elisabethschule in Lünen-Brambauer. This initiative aims to create safer routes for children by reducing traffic and improving visibility. The project involves banning motorized vehicles at specific times around the school, allowing only emergency vehicles, public transport, and local residents' cars. This measure is designed to eliminate traffic, parked vehicles, and dangerous maneuvers, creating a safer environment for elementary school students. The project is a collaboration between the Police Headquarters Dortmund, the City of Lünen, the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport, the Ministry of School and Education of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Elisabethschule Westfalen-Lippe itself. It is part of this year's European Mobility Week focus on school mobility management, encouraging independent mobility among children and young people. During the project's launch, police officers carried out checks and engaged with parents, raising awareness about the dangers of 'parent taxis' and issuing penalties for traffic violations. Head of the Traffic Department, Jolanta Bialas, encouraged parents to use designated drop-off points instead of driving their children to school to avoid congestion and unsafe parking. The 'temporary school street' at the Elisabethschule is operational between 07:15 and 08:15, and 15:00 and 16:00 on school days, excluding holidays. A joint press conference was held on September 18 to discuss the project's implementation, involving representatives from the relevant ministries, the city of Lünen, the Elisabethschule, and the Dortmund Police Presidium. The project seeks to make school routes safer and more accessible for children, promoting independent mobility and reducing traffic congestion.
