Comox year-round School Street

A year-round School Street was imagined as a car-free space at all times of the day throughout the year. 

People could use the street to access the area by:

• Walking
• Biking
• Rolling
• Playing

Information icon Parking and vehicle access would not be available, except for emergency services. 

The goal of the year-round School Street is to create a safe and welcoming car-free public space for the school and community to enjoy.

Lord Roberts Elementary School first participated in the School Streets Pilot for 4 weeks in the spring of 2021 before extending the program to the entire school year in 2021-22 and 2022-23. During this time, a car-free block was created on Comox Street (Cardero to Bidwell Street) during school pick up and drop off times. 

The program has been supported by a dedicated group of volunteers, who implement the school street daily from September to June, but the time and coordination required by volunteers to implement the daily school street make this model difficult to sustain over the longer term. 

During the first 2 years of the School Streets Program:

• The school community reported an increased sense of safety
• Families reported using more active modes to get to and from school, which resulted in a reduction in motor vehicle traffic around the school

In the 2021 to 2022 school year:

• 95% of students and 75% of parents reported feeling safer on the street
• 42% of families reported walking more
• 24% of families reported cycling more

The program received widespread support with 98% of students and 84% of school families wanting it to continue.

• All other blocks around the school, apart from Comox Street between Bidwell and Cardero streets, will remain accessible by motor vehicle if needed. There are no resident driveways on Comox Street between Bidwell Street and Cardero Street.
• Additional accessible parking spaces have been added around the school to accommodate parents and students with accessibility needs who arrive by motor vehicle.
• Traffic counts conducted during the pilot showed a reduction in motor vehicle volumes around the school.

Note Emergency vehicles will continue to have complete access to the street. 

School Streets Program

It's a temporary initiative at select schools for 4 weeks each spring. The program consists of setting up a car-free block beside a school open to walking, biking, and rolling during pick up/drop off (30 to 60 minutes, depending on location). 

Year-round School Street

It proposes to implement the School Street measures at all times of the day, all year long. The street will remain accessible for people walking, biking, and rolling, but vehicle access and parking will not be available (except for emergency services). New amenities may also be available for the community to use and enjoy.