Analysis of short-distance mobility and Map for Children - Osmose

Topic: Mobility management
Submission date: 2006
Name of measure/service etc:
Analysis of short-distance mobility and Map for Children
Location: Unna, Germany
Initiator and partners:
Local Authority
Short description of the activity:
The city of Unna has developed two initiatives to improve and encourage other ways of
transport in the city different from the private car. The city has been carrying out an
analysis of short-distance mobility to improve short-distance mobility and make it
comfortable, attractive and secure. Map for Children has also been developed, which
allows children not only learning how to look after themselves but also how to behave in
transport and move around.
Background and objectives:
Although being a cycle-friendly city, the dominating mean of transport in Unna is still the
private car. Especially short-distance trips are often made by car.
Car traffic is the dominant instrument in transportation. Especially parent taxi to school
or during leisure time is quite popular. Local shops on the one hand secure short-distance
mobility, but they are in danger with most people buying their everyday goods in big
shopping centres “in the open country-side”.
All forms of non-polluting traffic are specifically supported. For example since 1993 Unna
has been a member of the working pool of cycle friendly cities in North-Rhine-
Westphalia/Germany.
Within the inner city many ways are accessible for mobility impaired people. In the
outskirts problems still exist.
The Local Transport Plan states the following objectives:
• Support of sustainable travel with main emphasis on cycling.
• Simultaneously maintain good conditions for private car use.
• Safe ways will be provided especially for children, mobility impaired people and senior
citizens (e.g. most residential areas are already 30 km/h –zones, lowering of
pavements).
• Transport policy concerning a sensitive urban development under social and economic
aspects.
Within this framework, Unna has designed these initiatives which aim to:
• Taking into account all demographic developments and adjust Unna’s possibilities in
mobility to the future.
• Improve short-distance mobility to be comfortable, attractive and secure.
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• Sensitize people to environmentally friendly means of transport and to traffic safety.
• Intense participation of citizens during the whole process.
• Continuous press & media covering.
• Supporting children on their way to independence.
• Very often children are taken to school by car. For their personal development it is
absolutely important to move around on their own – making their own experiences.
• By working out this map they do not only learn how to look after themselves but also
how to behave in traffic and move around. The identification with their local
community will be strengthened.
Implementation:
Analysis of short-distance mobility:
There will be a one by one analysis of all city-districts starting in summer 2006 in Unna-
Hemmerde.
All following parts will be carried out:
• Analysis of short-distance mobility with special emphasis on junior and senior citizens
and mobility disabled people. Various groups and citizens in general have the
opportunity to state problems. The police and local authorities are included. But also
there are “people-walks” through the area of investigation. Citizens have the
opportunity to show problems on the spot. With the help of “indication cards” people
could state further problems in their every-day mobility.
• Develop a children’s map – with special emphasis on school ways. These maps will be
developed by children for children.
• Encourage local shopkeeper to install special offers for pedestrians and cyclists.
In May 2006 the project started in the first district of Unna. The Kick-off meeting was
open to all groups, associations and interested citizens. After introducing the theme the
participants were sensitised to the various fields of short-distance mobility. Pedestrians,
cyclists, young and old – everybody has different requirements to the infrastructure and
to mobility.
Many problems were then already stated and solutions discussed. Not only hard
measures will be taken into account.
Which problems can be solved with so-called soft measures? Possible projects are e.g.
walking / cycling busses for kindergarten and school children or the planned children’s
map.
Moreover local shops will consider special offers for cyclists and pedestrians.
Map for Children (start: autumn 06):
Again starting in Unna-Hemmerde we cooperate with the local Primary School. During
one week the two fourth classes will explore their own city district. Where are points of
interest? Where are save ways to reach these? Where do they have to pay attention to
possible dangers?
Normal City maps just contain “adult” themes – we want to create a map made by
children for children. It will have a “children-friendly” format and layout. Local companies
will be asked to sponsor the printing.
During the creation process participating children will get to know their environment and
will identify with their hometown. Moreover they learn a lot about traffic security
including various means of transport and correct behaviour.
Furthermore we will initialise walking busses for school and kindergarten children.
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In addition to the adult themes of the analysis of short-distance trips stated in part one –
here children are focused on.
Conclusions:
The city of Unna expects with the Analysis of short-distance mobility to discover weak
spots, develop measures to make short-distance mobility safe and sustainable and
therefore raise attractiveness of the particular part of town.
With this analysis, it was found 67 weak spots in Unna Hemmerde whereof two-thirds
can be improved by relatively small – and therefore cheap – measures.
With the analysis, information concerning the future urban development was collected.
These will be taken into account during future city planning projects.
During the whole process a (slowly) increasing sensitisation for non-polluting traffic was
found. At least people started thinking about this subject.
Children maps can be used in class and at home. They support new citizens finding their
way around (in Hemmerde many new houses especially for young families are being
built). One long-term result might be the reduction of school-way accidents. There will
also be a chance to sensitize them for sustainable means of transport.
Contact person for more information on the project:
Patricia Reich
Telephone: +49 (0) 2303 103-659
Fax: +49 (0) 2303 103-676
patricia.reich@stadt-unna.de
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