The city distributes 6,450 yellow safety vests to all school children. Other measures for the development of soft traffic are planned.
“Who rides a bike in this class? Asks the mayor of Saint-Maur. All the hands of the CM 2 class of the Tillie’s school are up. “Who already had a yellow vest to be visible? No more students to answer yes. The distribution of fluorescence vests is therefore welcome.
The city of Saint-Maur has decided to provide each child, from kindergarten to CM 2, this safety equipment that can be better seen. 6,450 yellow retro-reflective vests were ordered, for a total of 6,000 € and are distributed at the moment, with three different sizes depending on the age of the students. A suggestion is made by the new municipal commission “Saint-Maur bike” set up last June.
This Thursday, at the school, the elected officials themselves assured the distribution in this class not quite like the others. Last year, students at this level had drafted a law for the development of cycling in the city. A work that earned them a debate with the mayor of LR Sylvain, and the arrival of the deputy of the riding, (LREM).
“We have been working on the development of safe bike lanes in cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants. The construction of bike parking and the establishment of a cycling cities label on the model of flower cities,” says the teacher, Isabelle. Which was able to benefit this year of educational modules created by the academic inspection to accompany the distribution of yellow vests with reflective materials.
“Initiation sessions and projects related to road safety are increasing in schools,” says Patricia, Constituency Education Consultant. Sensitizing children in CM 2 then allow them to use the bike more easily and safely to get to college. ”
“My parents do not want me to go to school by bike, they find it too dangerous, confirms Chloe, 10 years old. But when I’m in college, I think I’ll take it. “With your high visibility vest, you can,” says Sylvain. And the mayor reminded the children that “if every one of you came on foot or by bike. It would be a big change in the city, a calmer traffic. ”
There is still work. Saint-Maur was awarded in 2016 by the Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) the price of a rusty nail. The town has very few bike lanes, only a few runways against traffic have emerged recently.
But the city does not stop there. A global action of sensitization of the families is envisaged with the National Education. “No car is not hard” should be launched to encourage families to take children to school otherwise than by car for a week. The bike commission also recommended the distribution of a brochure on good cycling practices and compliance with the Highway Code.