As here, vans or cars often block children’s way to school in the second row. They are particularly at risk on the road Photo: Olaf Selchow
From the BZ editorial team
On foot? By bus? Your own bike? Or with the parent taxi? 37,000 Berlin boys and girls started school on Saturday. On Monday they have their first official day of school. And overall, the question of how to get to school affects all 383,290 students.
And all parents ask themselves the question: How can my child get to school safely? Because it’s not that easy. Children are particularly at risk in traffic.
According to official police information, 113 children were seriously injured in Berlin traffic last year. That’s an average of at least two children every week. There were also 486 slightly injured. Two children have died on the roads this year.
In July, a 5-year-old boy from Prenzlauer Berg was hit by a car and injured so badly that he died. In April, a 59-year-old driver ran over an 11-year-old child from Marzahn for ignoring a red traffic light.
Second-grader Justus (6) from Steglitz only has to walk a kilometer to school, but his dad Mario Lachmann (47) usually takes him by bike in the morning. “We have to go through several traffic lights, there is a lot of traffic and it is alone still too dangerous for me,” he says. Justus would still like to drive alone. “That’s what we’re aiming for in the second half of the year,” says Dad Photo: Ralf Gunther
Traffic Senator Bettina Jarasch (53, The Greens) is therefore calling for more traffic-calmed zones in front of schools and more consideration for our children.
The Bürgerstiftung Berliner, together with the police, the BUND and the ADAC, carried out a day of action on the Tempelhofer Feld for 160 children this week and will be distributing reflectors to all Berlin school beginners next week. School senator Astrid-Sabine Busse (64, SPD) warned the kids about the “gigantic traffic”.
In the BZ, parents and children tell how safe they feel on the way to school.
“Cars often drive through the intersection when it’s red”
“I go to school by bus or bike,” says Marie (9) from Spandau. “My older brothers used to accompany me, now I also drive alone. But at the crossing of Gatower Straße and Heerstraße it is often dangerous. Some drive through the intersection on red and many are much too fast there. This is why many children are brought to our school by car because it is so dangerous. I would wish that drivers would take better care of us children.” Photo: Ralf Gunther
“Many drive like crazy”
Fourth grader Finn (9) rides his bike for about 30 minutes in the morning to the elementary school on Windmühlenberg in Spandau. “Once I also took the scooter and sometimes I take the bus,” he says. “I have to cross two large intersections, but there is usually a cycle path on the road. Nevertheless, it is sometimes dangerous at the traffic lights, because the cars also drive when they are red and they are not always careful when turning. Many really drive like crazy. That’s why I always get off at traffic lights and am careful. I think there should be more traffic lights for us and drivers should be more considerate.” Photo: Ralf Gunther
Lilian (9) walks with mom in 5 minutes
Once over the zebra crossing and done. It takes Lilian (9) less than five minutes to walk to her elementary school on Gallwitzallee in Lankwitz. “My mom takes me there in the morning and usually picks me up again,” she says. “There are very few cars and they drive carefully” Photo: Ralf Gunther
Jay (7) walks, bikes or scooters alone
Jay (7) is in the second grade of elementary school at the Bäke in Steglitz. The way to school takes ten minutes. “I walk, take the scooter and sometimes the bike,” he says. He thinks he’s capable of it, but his mother still worries. “I’m still anxious when he’s traveling alone,” says Mag-Britt Langner (48). “He has to cross three streets, you always worry about that” Photo: Ralf Gunther
Benedikt (10) cycles the 25 minutes alone
Benedikt (10) from Gatow rides a 25-minute bike ride to the school in Spandau. “I’ve been cycling since I was four years old and I feel quite confident. But on the way to school I have to go through a large Bundeswehr parking lot, where many cars drive around the corner much too fast, so you have to be careful.” Photo: Ralf Gunther
With the bike over traffic lights and zebra crossings
Juan (8, right) and Dario (8) from Lankwitz are in second grade at the Königsgraben elementary school. The two friends meet in the morning and then cycle to school together: “The ride only takes a few minutes and we have to go through a traffic light and a zebra crossing,” says Dario. Because they ride together, they still feel safe. “We’ve practiced and know where to look out for the cars,” says Juan Photo: Ralf Gunther
Dad drives and wants more controls
Almost every morning, Oliver Greß (43) drops his daughter Mathilda (8) by car at the Bernhard Grzimek elementary school in Lichtenberg. “We live a good distance away in the Nibelungenviertel and here on Sewanstraße there’s just too much racing for me,” he says. “School is on the way to work, so that fits in well,” he says. He would still like more checks by the police. “These are only at the beginning of school and then they drive fast again” Photo: Ralf Gunther