Guidelines for determining the safety of a walking route to school
When students apply for a school travel pass, Transport for NSW assesses any walking distance criteria that may apply between home and school. As part of this assessment, existing road and pedestrian infrastructure safety is considered to work out the available walking routes to school.
Listed below are the different road and pedestrian infrastructure which are considered factors in a safe walking route to school or the nearest pickup point.
Transport for NSW does not include personal safety as part of its assessment of available walking routes to school. Parents and carers should consider personal safety when deciding on the most suitable transport mode and route to school for their children.
Infrastructure considered safe for walking to school
Highways and main traffic routes
- Heavy traffic areas
Considered safe if crossed at pedestrian traffic lights, intersections controlled by traffic lights with pedestrian activation and phasing or at over or under passes. - Medium traffic volume
Minimum requirement for safe crossing – pedestrian aid eg. marked foot crossing or pedestrian refuge in middle of road. - Light traffic areas and country locations
Safe to cross providing pedestrians are not obscured from motorists by a bend in the road or hill. Pedestrians must also have an adequate view of vehicles approaching from both directions.
Suburban roads/alternate traffic routes
- Heavy traffic volume
Considered safe if crossed at pedestrian traffic lights, intersections controlled by traffic lights with pedestrian activation or, at over or under passes. - Medium traffic volume
Minimum requirement for safe crossing – pedestrian aid eg. marked foot crossing or pedestrian refuge in centre of roadway. - Light traffic volume
Safe to cross providing pedestrians are not obscured from motorists by a bend in the road or hill. Pedestrians must also have an adequate view of vehicles approaching from both directions.
Residential streets
- Safe to cross providing pedestrians are not obscured from motorists because of a bend or hill.
Suburban roads/alternate traffic routes (light traffic areas – country locations)
The safety of crossing at these locations is to be assessed on an individual basis, taking into account the size of the roundabout, traffic density and any available pedestrian aids.
Residential streets
These are generally considered safe to cross, especially those incorporating pedestrian aids. However, discretion is to be used taking into account the size of the roundabout and traffic density.
Sealed footpaths
Safe for walking.
Grass, mown verges – kerb and gutter
Grass, mown verges – no kerb and gutter rural verge
Determining safety of these locations is best done on an individual basis after considering all of the circumstances. However, they are generally safe for walking providing they are reasonably level and do not contain any obstacles that would make walking unsafe or difficult eg. potholes, rocks, undue amount of loose material. It is also important that the recognised pedestrian access along the verge is sufficiently far away from the traffic flow to avoid any collision with vehicles. Grass and Rural verges (those untendered by authorities) must also be free of any dense vegetation that would impede walking.
These are not normally regarded as being “safety” issues unless there is some danger resulting from vehicular traffic. However, in locations where there is a known danger from undesirable persons consideration can be given to recommending the issue of passes on safety grounds. In these instances surveying officers should seek the comments of the local police.
As a general rule recreation areas or parklands are considered to be part of a normal walking route if they are in an established residential area and the entire walking route through the park is clearly visible from its extremes at all times. The walking route must also be close enough to private residences or public roads so that any call for help could reasonably be expected to be heard.
Transport for NSW considers that the use of the park by children on weekends indicates that it is safe for students to walk through on school days.
Safe providing they are in close proximity of residential dwellings and are not obscured by dense foliage.
Infrastructure not considered safe for walking to school
Not safe to cross unless at overhead footway or underpass.
Suburban roads/alternate traffic routes (heavy traffic areas)
Generally not considered safe because of the traffic volume. However, this general rule can often be overruled at locations incorporating pedestrian aids such as ramps and refuges. Determination of safety at these locations is best done on an individual basis after considering all of the circumstances.
Road shoulders
As a general rule it is not considered safe for students to walk along any portion of a road. Any departure from this general rule would need to be justified by identifying an extremely low traffic flow.
Excessive road crossings
As a general rule it is not acceptable to insist upon multiple crossings of a roadway so that students can avoid walking along the shoulder of that roadway. The practice of insisting upon students crossing from one side of a roadway to the other should be avoided wherever possible. It is preferable for these students to receive passes on safety grounds.