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Busan Metropolitan City to Create “Safe Routes to School” within the 15-Minute City Discussion Held on Establishing a Cooperative Council

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has discussed measures to promote the “15-Minute City Safe Routes to School” initiative, enabling students to travel safely to and from school. The meeting was attended by related agencies, including the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency and the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.

On October 24, the city held its first kickoff meeting at City Hall, chaired by the Vice Mayor for Future Innovation. Officials from relevant bureaus and divisions, the Traffic Department of the Busan Police Agency, and the Safety Management Division of the Busan Office of Education participated.

Participants agreed that in order to establish truly safe school routes centered on students, it is necessary to move beyond the traditional approach of restricting vehicle access by time and instead prioritize the separation of pedestrian and vehicle paths. They also concurred on the need to form a cooperative council that brings together public and private stakeholders to discuss the project’s direction and resolve potential issues.

Accordingly, Busan Metropolitan City plans to establish the “15-Minute City Safe Routes to School Council” (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) comprising representatives from the police and education offices, as well as parents, civic groups, and transportation and education experts from both the public and private sectors.

The Council will first investigate the current conditions of school routes and discuss improvement measures. Based on the results, it will create safe school routes under three project types, including “car-free streets,” modeled after examples in Paris, France.

The city plans to classify the project into three categories—(1) car-free streets, (2) pedestrian-only sidewalks, and (3) pedestrian safety roads—and will identify project sites through applications submitted by each district (gu/gun).

Priority will be given to areas with high accident risks, such as steep slopes and back roads (alleys with unclear distinctions between sidewalks and roadways), as well as locations requested by students or parents.

Particularly, for “car-free streets” or “pedestrian-only sidewalks,” the city will seek understanding and cooperation from nearby residents and businesses, as these may involve designating one-way streets or implementing “road diet” measures. The Council will consider the perspectives of students—the primary users—when engaging local communities for consent and participation.

In addition, the Council will conduct joint inspections, evaluations, and follow-up measures through two regular meetings per year, along with ad hoc working-level sessions, to continuously enhance the safety of routes to school.

Vice Mayor for Future Innovation Seong Heui-yeob stated, “Creating safe school routes is a top priority for the next generation. Through a collaborative system with the police, education authorities, and citizens, Busan Metropolitan City will strive to build a 15-minute city where students can walk with confidence and peace of mind.”