Liu Lianlian, Chen Fei, CAI Jun, School of Architecture and Art, Dalian University of Technology

Abstract: Independent schooling is extremely important for children's growth and development. This paper provides a detailed elaboration and case studies on child-friendly urban traffic planning and management in Germany, actions and measures to promote children's independent schooling, as well as urban traffic education and training. The research results show that Based on the increasingly improved planning and regulatory guarantees for non-motorized and public transportation systems, Germany has creatively implemented a series of effective measures to ensure the safety of children on their way to school through the joint support and cooperation of the federal and local governments, transportation and police departments, civil organizations and enterprises, schools and families, and has established a systematic education and training system for children's travel. Drawing on Germany's experience in urban traffic planning, management and education that promotes children's independent schooling will help China establish a child-friendly urban transportation system as soon as possible.
Key words: Child-friendly city Urban traffic education School travel Children's participation; Germany

The significance and problems of children attending school independently
Independent schooling is of great significance to children's growth and development. It is beneficial to their physical health, concentration, understanding of space, perception of distance, time and speed, as well as the cultivation of a sense of responsibility and the promotion of social behavior development (see Figure 1). The experiences gained during childhood will shape future travel patterns. Independent schooling enables children to learn about their living environment through sports and social interaction. Most primary school students have a short commuting distance and can walk or ride a bike. Middle school students travel a long distance to school and can take public transportation. Reducing driving to school can help alleviate traffic congestion, safety hazards and CO2 emissions around schools.

Due to the limitations of physical development, young children have significant differences from adults in terms of behavior, hearing and vision, which makes it difficult for them to adapt to complex road traffic conditions. These differences make it impossible for road users to predict children's behavior, and children often face various threats (see Table 1)[3].

In the 1970s, 90% of primary school students in Germany went to school independently. Nowadays, an increasing number of "Elterntaxis" have led to traffic chaos around schools, making school administrators and parents even less willing to let children walk or ride bikes to school, which seriously hinders children's growth and development. At present, Germany has started by improving pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well as public transportation infrastructure and services. Through a series of promotion activities to ensure the safety of the school transportation environment, traffic education and training, etc., children have gradually begun to adopt environmentally friendly transportation methods to go to school independently.
In Germany, a friendly city for children and friends, the urban transportation planning and management are well-organized
2.. Road traffic management in residential areas
In Germany, primary school planning is divided according to school districts, and the commuting environment is mainly based on residential areas. Therefore, establishing child-friendly road traffic management in residential areas is the first step to ensure that children can go to school independently. Child-friendly road traffic management mainly falls into two categories: non-motorized traffic and motorized traffic (see Table 2).
1) Non-motorized traffic space.
Non-motorized transportation is the basic mode for children to travel to school. A complete non-motorized transportation infrastructure is a fundamental condition for ensuring the safety of children on their way to school. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic planning has long been incorporated into the urban road traffic planning system in Germany. The well-structured pedestrian and bicycle roads and sign systems provide clear regulatory guarantees for pedestrians and cyclists [5](see Figure 2).
Children often show suddenness and unpredictability on the road. For children, sidewalks have the functions of playing, stopping and passing through. To create such a free space, apart from road traffic control measures, social security, public order and subjective sense of security are also of vital importance. Busy streets and squares can provide pedestrians with a subjective sense of security and prevent intentional vandalism or harassment. Open and clear road design, good lighting, and regular pruning of shrubs and trees are important for ensuring a safe walking environment [6].

2) Motor vehicle speed restriction area.
In terms of motor vehicle traffic control and management, the child-friendly road traffic management models in German cities mainly include 30-kilometer zones and traffic safety zones [7](see Figure 3). These two models are widely applied in residential areas of various cities in Germany.
The 30 km zone is applicable to public roads. The maximum speed of all vehicles in this zone shall not exceed 30 km·h-1. In 1983, Germany piloted a 30-kilometer zone in residential areas, with the aim of enhancing traffic safety and improving the quality of living and staying [8-9]. The advantages of the 30-kilometer zone include: safer streets, less noise, more balanced traffic volume, better acceptance, less cost and management burden [10], higher quality of life, clearer traffic rules [11], and less harm to pedestrians [12]. The 30-kilometer zone is regarded as an important guarantee for the safety of children's travel in residential areas [13].
The transportation Anning District is applicable to the entire residential area and plays a significant role in promoting the compatibility of various transportation modes (walking, cycling, and public transportation), while reducing air and noise pollution and ensuring road safety [14]. Its regulations stipulate that when a car enters, it must travel at a walking speed. Drivers must not endanger or obstruct the passage of pedestrians. Pedestrians must not intentionally obstruct traffic. Vehicles are not allowed to be parked in areas other than the permitted parking signs. Pedestrians can use the entire street, allowing children to play everywhere [15]. In addition, on roads marked with school road signs, children are allowed to cross. At present, there are supplementary regulations on the road signs for going to school, such as marking the 30-kilometer zone or the commuting time period (see Figure 4).
2.. Design and management of Pedestrian Crossing Facilities Design and management of pedestrian crossing facilities
Pedestrian crossing is an important traffic link on children's school roads. Germany has clear regulatory standards for the installation and design of pedestrian crossing facilities to meet the passage requirements of various modes of transportation (see Table 3).
The basic principles for the setting of pedestrian crossing facilities. The basis for the setting of pedestrian crossing facilities is the traffic volume on the road. However, if a certain road frequently has pedestrians who need protection (such as children and the elderly), the setting of crossing facilities does not entirely rely on the traffic volume. In principle, in light of the characteristics of the terrain, the setting of pedestrian crossing facilities should provide convenience for pedestrians. It is not advocated to build new pedestrian overpasses and underpasses in built-up areas, except for connections to bus stops, subway stations, and main urban roads, etc. Auxiliary equipment (elevators or escalators) should be adopted to overcome the height difference between pedestrians and pedestrian overpasses or underpasses.
2) Design of pedestrian crossing facilities.
The design of pedestrian level crossing facilities in Germany mainly includes: safety islands or safety belts. Pedestrian priority roadside space and road contraction; Speed bumps or partially elevated road speed bumps. Pedestrian crossing facilities should meet the road crossing requirements for pedestrians as well as those using scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers, and be designed in combination with pedestrian crossings and signal light facilities (see Figure 5). In some sections of the road where the road is narrow and students frequently cross, simple pedestrian crossing safety assistance devices can be added to enhance the safety of students' passage.
3) Management and restrictions on motor vehicle parking and speed. In German road traffic planning, on-street parking is regarded as a barrier to prevent vehicles from accidentally entering sidewalks, but it is necessary to eliminate the safety impact of on-street parking on pedestrians crossing the street. According to the speed limit of motor vehicles (30 km·h-1 and 50 km·h-1) and the type of pedestrian crossing facilities (whether they have pedestrian priority), clearly stipulate the distance between on-street parking areas and pedestrian crossing facilities. This is a basic measure to protect the visibility of pedestrians crossing the street. To effectively ensure the safety of crossing the school road, some new measures have also been implemented: speed record boards have been added on sections with pedestrian crossings, indicating whether the speed of passing vehicles is up to standard through smiling faces.
2.. Children's participation in urban traffic design and improvement
Over the past two decades, Germany has been promoting the participation of children and teenagers in the municipal planning process [17] and has legislated to guarantee children's right to participate. During the participation process, advice and support are provided by professionals with teaching capabilities to coordinate the opinions between planners and children. Promoting children's active participation in all stages of the project will make it easier to achieve child-friendly planning and more targeted outcomes [18].
Improving urban traffic is an important aspect of children's participation. In 2016, in the German town of Kerpener, the first child-friendly roundabout and pedestrian crossing planned by primary school students was built near the Ulrichschule (see Figure 6). This project has received support from Allgemeiner DeutscherAutomobil-Club (ADAC) and Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club. The joint support of ADFC, Kinderschutzbund and municipal authorities. The renovated intersection is designed with rich colors and is suitable for children, which has significantly reduced the traffic volume of the "parents' Taxi" at this primary school and alleviated the road traffic problems near the school [19].
In the pedestrian traffic inspection project in the south of Stuttgart, primary school students set out from their homes to check their school routes, looking for problems and opportunities for improvement. The participants include: 16 third-grade students, representatives of the city's children, and relevant departments such as the Stuttgart Urban Planning and Urban Renewal Office. The inspection results show the following problems: The sidewalk is narrow and often paved; It's difficult to cross the street. Bushes and hedges can obstruct the view. Many drivers do not abide by the speed limit and make rapid turns at intersections, posing a threat to children. Pedestrians wait for too long at red lights. The safety island is too small, etc. Subsequently, the inspection report was submitted to the regional advisory committee, where the participating institutions held outcome reporting meetings at the school to inform the children of the resolution and progress of the inspection issues [20].
2.. Child-friendly public transportation system. Child-friendly public transportation system
In Germany, children often go to school by bus, subway and suburban railway. Every day, millions of children take buses to and from school, and each year more than 8,000 children are injured on buses [21]. It is of vital importance to enhance and ensure the attractiveness and safety of public transportation operations for students.
A convenient, efficient and barrier-free public transportation system. The short-distance public transportation system in German cities (Offentlicher Personennahverkehr, OPNV) mainly includes: suburban railways (S-Bahn), subways (light rails), trams and buses. The public transportation system has detailed timetables. Public transportation routes for students to go to school will meet the demand by increasing the frequency and shortening the intervals between deparsions during the commuting time. The public transportation system, with rail transit as the mainstay and buses as the supplement, provides a guarantee for the fast, comfortable and convenient travel of residents in residential areas. Barrier-free design is an important goal in the planning of urban public transportation systems in Germany: through the design of ramps and elevators, it is convenient for children's strollers, wheelchairs and bicycles to reach various rail transit stations. Public transportation vehicles and their space designs can accommodate the use of baby strollers, wheelchairs and bicycles. In the future, urban transportation planning will set up more public transportation routes for school commuting, promoting the use of public transportation by people with disabilities, strollers or those carrying bicycles [22].
In the ticketing system, the short-distance public transportation system in German cities is free for children under the age of six, and offers discounts for children and teenagers aged 6 to 14. There are student annual passes available. Apart from school transportation, public transportation systems are commonly used for daily visits and outings in kindergartens and schools. At present, some cities (such as Berlin, Rostock, etc.) are implementing free public transportation programs for students, aiming to help poor children and teenagers participate in educational, sports and cultural activities. Due to the high service fees, other federal states are still discussing the feasibility of free public transportation [23].
2) School bus transportation (Schulbusverkehr).
A school bus refers to a regular means of transportation for students to and from school.
School buses in Germany mainly include fixed school buses and temporary school buses. Apart from the school's own school buses, regular school buses and temporary school buses are mainly provided by the urban public transportation system. The legal basis for school bus traffic in Germany mainly falls within two frameworks: one is various traffic regulations at the federal level; The second category includes relevant state and regional regulations and private law agreements (such as school bus contracts), etc. The school bus traffic regulations have established detailed standards and requirements: for instance, clear approval requirements have been set for school bus driving licenses; Fifteen rules for children and teenagers to take school buses have been proposed. At the same time, accident prevention regulations have also been formulated, such as preventive measures for dangerous operations of school buses (reversing and turning). Regulations and standards for the setting of school bus stops and barrier-free stations.
Measures to promote children's independent and safe schooling Measures to promote children's independent and safe schooling
3.11 School Route Planning School route planning
1) Definition.
The school route planning (Schulwegplan) is provided by the transportation department with diagrams of safe school routes, such as maps. School route planning helps first-grade primary school students find the safest way to school (often not the shortest)[24] and recommends it to parents and schools before the start of the school term. In the overall concept of child protection, the planning of school routes lies between urban traffic management measures (such as pedestrian zone facilities) and traffic education measures (such as pedestrian training), playing a significant role in children's travel safety [25]. Practice has proved that it is an effective method. The planning of school routes requires the joint participation of teachers, parents, police officers and children to improve the safety of commuting routes and make up for the deficiencies in school management [26].

2) Plan the steps and requirements.
Creating a school route plan usually requires the following analysis steps: ① Parent survey; ② Detailed assessment and investigation; ③ Further review the investigation results; ④ Accident analysis. The school route planning includes route suggestions and hazard point markings [27]. The school route map should be easy for parents and children to understand and should include the most important traffic infrastructure, especially safety crossing facilities (traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, safety islands, pedestrian overpasses and pedestrian underpasses, etc.)[28]. In the following years, the route planning for going to school should be inspected and adjusted in response to the constantly changing traffic environment to reduce the traffic risks of going to school [29]. In Frankfurt, the planning of school routes around schools includes: the installation of school sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic lights, public transportation stations, pedestrian zones and 30-kilometer zones [30](see Figure 7).
3) Policy and regulatory support.
In 1975, the Transport Technology Association of German insurance companies issued the first guideline on school road safety [31]. In 1979, the Federal Minister of Transport proposed the "Gemeinsamplanen-gemeinsamhandeln" initiative, which involved the Federal Department of Transport and state governments jointly promoting the "School Road Safety" campaign. Provide a school safety task manual for parents, teachers and professionals, and call on parents to actively participate to help the government propose various safe school routes [32]. State, city and school boards have the obligation to provide safe routes. Both the federal government and each state have established relevant legal provisions to ensure the safety and attractiveness of school route planning and put them into practice [33].
4) Practical cases.

School route planning is widely developed in large and medium-sized cities in Germany. In Munich, schools have launched a community initiative called "Safe to School, Safe Home", which is jointly promoted by the Munich Transport Authority, the Bavarian Insurance Agency, the State government Assembly, the Munich Police Department, the Parents' Association, state primary schools, and the Special Education Promotion Center [34]. Every year, a school route manual is printed and handed over to parents by educational institutions or published on the school website [35]. In Stuttgart and Mannheim, the government's official websites can be used to search for the route planning maps around primary schools in each school district, and explanations are provided in seven languages including German, English, French and Arabic [36]. The traffic safety department has participated in the national "Safe Way to School" (SichererSchulweg) campaign, focusing on issues in areas near schools and daily school routes, and monitoring vehicle speeds and parking behaviors in a targeted manner [37]. The German Pedestrian Transport Union (FachverbandFußverkehr Deutschland, FUSS e. V.) and the German Cycling Club were also involved in the school route planning project [38].
3.. Walk to school and kindergarten
Walking to school and kindergarten not only trains children's self-protection and independence, but also their experience and perception of social life. Independent and safe travel requires practice, and children need to be given opportunities and safety advice provided [39].
The "Walk to School and Kindergarten" (ZuFußzurSchuleund zum Kindergarten) event is organized by DeutschesKinderhilfswerk and Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V,VCD) jointly promote. On September 22nd every year, children and teenagers are invited across the country to walk or ride bicycles to schools and kindergartens. Parents and educators should give up cars to participate in the activities on this day [40]. Later, the activities gradually expanded to last for a week. This activity encourages parents and children to walk to school together for the first time. Under the supervision of parents, children are trained in an organized manner, and then the children complete it independently. In this activity, children can learn to better assess speed and distance, and learn to position themselves, thereby gaining experience in safe traffic travel [41]. This activity plays a positive role in helping children gain independence and learn to travel by environmentally friendly means of transportation [42]. In 2016, over 85,000 students from more than 3,000 schools in Germany participated in the 10th anniversary celebration of the event [43].
3.. Ride a bike or scooter to school safely
As children grow older, many prefer to ride bicycles or scooters from their homes to school or public transportation stops. This is supported by some local governments, transportation, police, school and other departments as a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. High-quality scooters and bicycles have many advantages for children: riding and sliding train all motor skills, especially the coordination of movement and balance; Faster than walking, children learn to perceive their environment while moving. Bring more fun to children. Scooters are safer than bicycles, less prone to accidents, have a lower risk of injury, and are easier to use than bicycles. Scooters have fewer places where children might get injured or squeezed. For primary school students, the commute to school is usually short and it is very easy to travel by bike. For middle school students, bicycles are an eco-friendly alternative to school buses or "parents' taxis". The head of the German cycling club said that the planning of cycling routes in schools is an important step to ensure the safety of children cycling to school. The better the bicycle road facilities are (flatter and have better friction), the safer it is. At present, all states in Germany have planned a network of bicycle paths for school [46].

3.. 4 Pedestrian Bus Pedestrian Bus

1) Definition and Function.
A Walking Bus refers to children walking to school in an organized manner together, just like a real bus, with a "driver" (such as a parent or volunteer), a fixed route and pick-up time [47](see Figure 8). When children go to school together, walking becomes safe, convenient and fun [48], and "bicycle buses (Radelbus)" can also be organized [49]. The walking bus represents a safe solution for walking to school, and its benefits lie in [50-51] : being environmentally friendly; Reduce the traffic volume around schools and alleviate the traffic chaos in front of schools. Relieve the pressure on parents to pick up and drop off their children at school; Students can better understand traffic rules and the environment, providing children with important road traffic experiences. Change the "parents' taxi" travel behavior to make children realize that walking is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation that is responsible for the environment and society. Promote children's physical activity and health; Teach primary school students to take responsibility and enhance children's sense of community.
2) Requirements for pedestrian buses.
Like school buses, walking buses pick up children at fixed stops on their way to school. Reflective clothing or luminous equipment (schoolbags, hats) ensures that all road users can see the walking bus. The "driver" and direction of the walking bus were initially handled by parent volunteers or police officers, but later on, this responsibility was gradually handed over to children. To ensure the reliability and punctuality of pedestrian buses, a high level of commitment from parents is required, along with the provision of replacement personnel and an effective communication network. The maximum distance that a pedestrian bus can travel is 2 kilometers. Its route is not the fastest but the safest, and it should minimize dangerous points as much as possible during the journey. It is necessary to discuss potential dangers and special circumstances (such as accidents) with the participating children in advance and practice correct behavior. [52]

3.. 5 Yellow footprints Yellow footprints
Yellow footprints (gelbe Fuß abdrucke) refer to the yellow footprints sprayed on sidewalks and roadsides, designed to help primary school and preschool children cross the street safely, avoid dangerous situations [53], and master their future way to school [54-55]. The yellow footprints at the crossing point remind children to stop and take a look at the road first. The footprints on the sidewalk remind children of what they have learned when crossing the street. The goal of the yellow footprints is not only to mark safer paths to school or kindergarten, but also to encourage children and their parents to voluntarily adopt safer traffic behaviors when they see the yellow footprints. In the Yellow Footprints project, the police Guide school-age children to adopt correct traffic behaviors on their way to school (see Figure 9). Taking Rheinland-Pfalz as an example, in 2014, the Yellow Footprint Project team was composed of administrative staff from various primary schools, parent representatives, municipal government representatives and police [58]. The implementation procedure is as follows: 1) The school provides a questionnaire, in which parents of the students point out what they have seen on their way to school; 2) Summarize the problem locations in the map; 3) The police and municipal traffic authorities shall ultimately determine the locations where students should stand and cross the roads within each school. 4) Construction workers spray yellow footprint marks on the designated roads during the students' summer vacation. 5) After the start of the school term, hold a press conference with the students at the yellow footprint location near the school. 6) The school conducts education and training on the Yellow Footprint Action in the classroom.
Urban traffic education and training for children's travel
Only by increasing children's travel experience and abiding by traffic rules can traffic accidents be effectively reduced. Since 1994, Germany has incorporated traffic education and practical training for children into kindergarten and school education. Through the joint support and cooperation of parents, schools, transportation, police and other relevant departments, help children become safe road users for travel [59]. The urban transportation planning and educational measures in Germany that promote children's independent schooling are shown in Table 4.

4.. Education and training for walking to school
The urban transportation authorities in Germany have long implemented walking training and pedestrian tests to help children learn the correct behavior on their way to school and minimize the risk of accidents (see Figure 10).

1) Walking training.
The walking training is participated in by students, parents, schools and police. The traffic education guidelines formulated for primary school students mainly include [59] : ① It is necessary to remember the important road traffic signs related to walking (such as traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian zones, bicycle lanes, etc.) and their rules; ② Correct behavior when crossing different types of roads, such as streets without pedestrian crossings and traffic lights, streets with safety islands, streets with pedestrian crossings or traffic lights, etc. ③ Be aware of the dangers in blind spots, especially at the rear of trucks and buses. The following suggestions are put forward for parents to train their children to walk to school [60] : ① Practice the way of commuting to school during normal school hours; ② Discuss the dangerous points in detail along the way; ③ Avoid dangerous points and choose a slightly longer route to school for practice. ④ At the very beginning, it is essential to accompany your child to help control neglected behaviors. ⑤ Don't often advise and don't be unnecessarily afraid of possible dangers. Instead, praise frequently. ⑥ Role transition: The child takes the parents to school and explains the danger points. Parents should serve as role models for their children's correct traffic behavior.

2) Pedestrian examination.
The Pedestrian test (Fuß gangerprufung) is a walking test for children about to enter school. After theoretical study and practical training, the police asked the students to demonstrate how to cross the road correctly and evaluate their behavior [61]. The police pointed out, "You can't just walk to the other side of the road. You must stop to see if there are any cars. First, look left, then right, then left. If there's nothing, cross the street again." This step is widely recognized as the standard behavior for pedestrians crossing the street. Ultimately, every child passes the pedestrian test and can proudly take the pedestrian crossing pass home [62].
4.. Education and training for cycling to school
Whether children can go to school by bike depends on their personal ability and the traffic conditions along the way. Many children can ride bicycles before they start school, but cycling to school still requires systematic training.
The purpose of cycling training is to promote children's safe and independent use of bicycles. Every year, more than 95% of students in Germany participate in this training. In the first two years of school, children are gradually introduced to cycling, and theoretical and practical cycle tests are conducted in the third and fourth academic years. The practice on the playground or indoors is systematic, ranging from simple to complex cycling behaviors, while taking into account psychological, athletic and social needs, such as lane keeping, one-handed driving, looking around, correctly perceiving the signals of another cyclist and responding appropriately [63].
Research by the German transport agency shows that children's cycling skills gradually improve with age. At the age of eight, a significant leap in skills occurs for the first time. Only at this age do they start to systematically utilize traffic hearing rather than relying solely on vision and can truly detect potential dangers. By the age of 9 to 10, the ability to drive with one hand improves, and one begins to be able to prevent the dangers caused by their behavior in advance. Only cycling on sidewalks is allowed before the age of 10. [65] The German cycling club also undertakes the task of providing cycling training for children. They pointed out, "Don't overestimate the cycling test." Children usually do not succeed in transferring the knowledge they have learned in standard situations to the real situations on their way to school. Therefore, it is very important for parents and children to practice specific traffic conditions together [66]." In addition, police agencies and traffic clubs have also offered scooter courses, and children need to be trained to obtain a Rollerpass.
In response to the potential injuries from cycling, the German Cycling club emphasizes the importance of cycling helmets, enhancing visibility in the dark, and the correct cycling equipment (bicycles that meet safety standards). Appropriate and correct cycling equipment can reduce the incidence of accidents.
4.. Education and training on public transportation
Many children go to school by bus, tram or even suburban railway. When taking public transportation, the following points must be noted: the exact station, the safe distance while waiting on the platform, taking the correct vehicle, knowing the station to get off at, whether there is a gap between the train and the platform when getting off, and how to cross the street or the track, etc.
Many public transportation companies in cities cooperate with schools, police and other relevant departments to teach children the correct behavior when taking buses and rail transit through practical training and the production of educational films [67]. In response to traffic safety issues for children caused by cars, the police will demonstrate to students the situation where wheels run over objects [68]. By closely observing what happens when the car door closes, children can understand that they should stay away from cars and only approach when the car has stopped [69]. From the perspective of family education, parents should ensure that their children have enough time to go to public transportation stations. In school education, it is necessary to discuss with students to solve the psychological and behavioral problems of taking public transportation to school.
4.. Education to get rid of blind spots in trucks
Ignoring the blind spots on the sides and front of trucks has become a fatal danger in children's walking and cycling traffic activities. Every year, there are traffic accidents involving children due to right-turning trucks. The "RausausdemTotenWinkel" project is an activity jointly organized by the Round Table civil organization [70] and the school, using large trucks on campus to simulate dangerous traffic situations [71]. The project was launched in September 2006 as part of the primary school curriculum, mainly providing education on the dangers of blind spots for children in grade 3 and above. During the activity, a truck was used to clearly display blind spots and their dangers. Children worked together with instructors and teachers to study and create blind spots. Every student has the opportunity to sit in the driver's seat of a truck and experience the restricted view of the road from the driver's perspective (see Figure 11). Children also experienced the size of the truck and the danger of getting too close. The "Get Out of Blind Spots" project promotes the following behavioral guidelines to help children get out of blind spots and avoid accidents [72] : Always pay attention to the driver. If you can't see him, he can't see you. Maintain a greater lateral distance from the vehicle; As a precautionary measure, turn around before crossing an intersection or a small street to ensure that there are no right-turning vehicles behind.

4.. Visibility in the dark Visibility in the dark
The visibility of children on the road is an important factor for school road safety. Better visibility can reduce the risk of accidents [73]. Germany enters the dark season from November to February of the following year. School trips usually take place in the dark and at dusk. Rain, fog or snow can also block the view, increasing the danger for children on their way to school. Data from 2010 shows that 43% of accidents involving children outside school between 7:00 and 8:00 occurred during the four months from November to February of the following year. Visibility is measurable. In the dark, the distance at which a child with reflective clothing can be seen is 130 to 160 meters, while the distance at which a child in black clothing can be seen is 25 to 30 meters (see Figure 12). When the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 50 km·h-1, the driver needs a stop distance of 40 meters. Therefore, providing better visibility equipment is of vital importance. Visual equipment includes: reflective clothing with sufficient emission surfaces on the front, back and sides to provide the best protection, and reflective accessories on shoes and hats; Reflective protective vests provide additional visibility; Safe schoolbags have additional reflective surfaces and transmitting components.

German Transport Media Service Center (Verkehrswacht-Medien& Service-Center) VMS, C&A Fashion KG and 3M Scotchlite launched the cooperative project "See and Be Seen" (Sehen und geseh-enwerden). This project was widely implemented from 2003 to 2007, developing, manufacturing and distributing visual equipment and teaching materials to approximately 20,000 primary schools and special education schools in Germany each year. DEKRA Automobil GmbH ③ put forward the slogan "Significantly Safer" (SichtbarmehrSicherheit) and distributed children's hats with all-round reflective strips to schools for free every year, enabling children to be better observed by drivers. Remind drivers to pay special attention to children on the road [75].
5 Conclusions and Implications
Reducing the use of "parents' taxis" to school, promoting children's independent and safe schooling, and ensuring the safety of school routes are the focuses of concern for the German government and society. Germany's experience in child-friendly urban transportation planning and education shows that:
The gradually improved pedestrian and bicycle transportation infrastructure and regulations in cities, as well as the planning and design of convenient, efficient and barrier-free public transportation systems, are the basic conditions for ensuring an independent and safe school environment for children.
2) A series of effective safety measures for children's way to school have been implemented, including route planning, walking buses and yellow footprints, which have enhanced the safety of the children's commuting environment and strengthened their confidence in going to school independently.
3) Promoting walking, cycling and taking public transportation to school can effectively reduce the traffic volume of cars for commuting and relieve the traffic pressure on schools and cities.
4) Systematic traffic education and training were provided for children to walk, ride bicycles and take public transportation to school, alerting them to potential dangers (such as blind spots of trucks and visibility in the dark), which enhanced their ability to travel independently to school.
5) The government, police and transportation departments, schools, social organizations, enterprises and families should work together to support child-friendly urban transportation planning.
6) Attach importance to and respect children's travel needs and suggestions
Incorporate children's participation in urban and transportation planning into legal regulations.
In urban and transportation planning and infrastructure construction in China, the feelings and suggestions of the children group are often overlooked. The transportation and social environment for children and teenagers' commuting to school is not optimistic. Not only is there a lack of child-friendly road traffic planning, but urban traffic education for children is also significantly lacking. Although there are road safety measures similar to those in Germany in urban traffic management in China, a systematic and regularized child-friendly urban traffic planning, management and education system has not yet been formed. Drawing on the experience of child-friendly urban traffic planning and traffic education in Germany to improve and promote the friendly mobility of children and teenagers in Chinese cities is the foundation for establishing child-friendly cities.
Note
Notes:

The term "Parents' taxi" originated in the field of transportation education in Germany, referring to the situation where children and teenagers are sent by their parents to destinations such as schools or clubs by convenient means of transportation like private cars. Has been widely used in everyday language and often used in the media (see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elterntaxi).
② In some domestic cities, parking Spaces are introduced into sidewalks on certain roads. This is a wrong measure that seriously affects pedestrian safety and does not fall under on-street parking. Road intersections are key nodes for smooth traffic flow and safety Should guarantee the parking away from the intersection (detailed see https://sutp.org/files/contents/documents/resources/B_Technical-Documents/GIZ_SUTP_ TD14_On_Street_Parking_Management_CN.pdf.
③ DEKRA(Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Uberwachun gs-Verein) is the largest automotive inspection company in Germany, founded in 1925 Is one of the world's leading auto detection (detailed see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekra).
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement:
We would like to express our gratitude to Professor Astrid Ley and his team from the Institute of Urban Design at the University of Stuttgart (Stadtebau-Institut, Stuttgart) for their support and assistance in this research.