News

Over the past month, the Municipality of Utrecht (Netherlands) has hosted two workshops at schools (on 20 June and 3 July), together with the pupils of the respective schools - the Marcusschool in Overvecht and the Kaleidoskoop in Kanaleneiland - and REALLOCATE partners, Veilig Verkehr Nederlands (VNN) and SportUtrecht.

During the workshops the pupils drew their school routes on a map, paying attention to various traffic situations they encounter on this school route and the school environment.  With the help of the VVN situation maker, these school routes and the school environment have been developed into digital data.

Other activities took place outside in small groups under the guidance of the partners, to have a look at the traffic situations outside. The students were given observation forms in advance to observe three dangerous crossings. Attention was paid to crowds, traffic signs, overview of the intersection and how safe the dangerous crossings feel. The dangerous crossings were discussed in class and a short presentation was prepared to share the findings with each other.

To round up the workshops, Mobility Councilor Lot van Hooijdonk from the Municipality of Utrecht, signed the cooperation agreement for the REALLOCATE project. She did this together with the schools (pupils and teachers) and partners SportUtrecht and Veilig Verkeer Nederland.

The drawn school routes, highlighted dangerous crossings and observations to be analysed during the summer holidays by the Municipality of Utrecht, Veilig Verkeer Nederland and SportUtrecht. After the summer holidays, surveys will be conducted among teachers and parents. With all this input, the team will return to the Marcusschool and Kaleidoscoop in October with the next workshops. The aim will be to test interventions in a Minecraft world that is designed just like their school environment and school routes.

Learn more about Utrecht's plans in REALLOCATE.