The City of Kamloops and School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) have teamed up to test a Safer School Streets pilot project at Arthur Hatton Elementary School. The project was timed to coincide with GoByBike week May 29 to June 9, 2023. It created a car free perimeter around the school during pick up and drop off times.
Safer School Streets = No Vehicle Traffic
The perimeter involved a brief closure of Schubert Drive from Holly Avenue to Oak Road and Chestnut Avenue from Schubert Drive to the Fortune Drive Frontage Road from 7:45 am to 8:45 am and 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. Provisions were made for local residents and access for mobility or medical issues. Those vehicles were asked to proceed at a walking pace.
Promoting Active Transportation
The City of Kamloops reported that "throughout the initiative, students and families have enjoyed walking, riding, and rolling to class through a temporary, car-free area around the school in an effort to improve safety, encourage active modes of travel, reduce traffic congestion and emissions, and offer much-needed space to play."
The pilot did not develop into a continuous program after the trial in 2023.
Update: February 2025
An article on Castanet reports that the City of Kamloops called this project a huge success and is looking at finding the right opportunity to continue and expand it.
Examples in Vancouver
- Gordon Elementary: Returned to the program in 2025.
- Lord Selkirk Elementary: Participating in the Spring Program and piloting a year-round model in 2025.
- Lord Strathcona Elementary: Returning to the program and piloting a new year-round model.
- L'École Bilingue: Returning to the program in 2025.
- Edith Cavell Elementary: Joined the program in 2025.
Learn More
- Safer School Streets Report - City of Kamloops
- B.C.'s School Streets Initiative
- School Streets Guidebook
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