Ways to reduce traffic congestion around school

Abstract

Driving to school can cause traffic congestion around school. Replacing alternatives, e.g. walk, bicycle, bus, carpool, to driving to school helps to release the problem. For a case study of Roong Aroon School, most of students (66 %) live in 3 districts, Bangkhuntiean, Tungkru and Jomthong, and spend 10-40 minutes to school. About 90% of parents decide to drive to school because of poor footpath and no public transport network connected to the school. Only 3.8% use the school bus. Although a group of them, 22%, live nearby the school within 1-2 kilometers which is possible to walk or cycle, very few of them use non-motorized mode. Due to the congested condition especially in rush-hour, 7:30-8:00 a.m., most of parents (52%) suggest to change from driving to school to using school bus or shuttle bus. Moreover, the micro-simulation model is used to analyze the level of service (LOS) of the routes around and in school. After a group of volunteers who drive to school, 22% of parents in the three districts, decides to change to the school bus or shuttle bus, the LOS of all routes are improved.