Neighbourhood schools built in years past were based on the majority of students walking to school and do not have the facilities to accommodate the large vehicle demands caused by parents dropping off and picking up their children. These activities place strain on the adjacent street system, and create safety issues amongst motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The City of Surrey, BC is undertaking road safety reviews at all schools in the city, with an emphasis on mitigating the safety issues of pick-up / drop-off activities. Determining the demand for pick-up / drop-off facilities is an important component in the development of retrofit strategies for existing schools and design guidelines for new development. North American studies on the subject relate the demand to school population but typically the sample sizes are small and are greatly influenced by the local characteristics such as school bussing policy. A study specific to the City of Surrey was deemed necessary to be able to relate the existing school facilities to the expected demand and provide guidance in developing measures to address the demand. A combined methodology of on-site surveys and travel mode questionnaires was utilized in the study. The study describes the methodology and summarizes the results that identify peak pick-up / drop-off demands, expected demand distribution, and typical mode split travel methods. The study also provides observations on land use and socio-economic influences on school traffic behaviour.
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