School No. 8 and Schools No. 48 & 61: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Project status
COMPLETE
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Over 75% of teachers and parents surveyed at school No. 8 noted an improvement in road safety with a reduction in speeding noted most often.
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80% of students surveyed across all schools reported that it is now easier to cross the road safely.
School No. 8: Moskovskaya – Beishenaliev intersection
Upgrades include:
- Replacement and installation of pedestrian and transport traffic lights (poles, controller).
- Installation of Bishkek’s first ever pedestrian refuge island.
- Replacement of road signs
- Straightening of pedestrian crossings
- Repair of adjacent sidewalks, stairs, ramps
- Painting of pedestrian crossings
- Installation of additional lighting
Schools No. 48 and 61: Maldybaev – Akhunbaev intersection
Upgrades include:
- Replacement and installation of pedestrian and transport traffic lights facing all directions (poles, controller).
- Replacement of road signs
- Straightening of pedestrian crossings
- Repair of adjacent sidewalks, stairs, ramps
- Painting of pedestrian crossings
- Installation of additional lighting
Project news
Two schools in Bishkek pilot 30km/h while a further two get road safety upgrades
Public Association ‘Road Safety’ are leading the way on improving road safety around schools in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
With the support of the Safer Roads Foundation and the FIA Foundation, we have worked with our local partners Public Association ‘Road Safety’ to upgrade pedestrian infrastructure at two intersections in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Maldybaev – Akhunbaev and Moskovskaya – Beishenaliev.
The two intersections are located on key routes to school, in the vicinity of schools no. 8, 48, and 61, and together accounted for almost 20 road casualties between 2019-2021.
Secondary school No. 8 is located 350m from the Moskovskaya – Beishenaliev intersection. Local media has reported that the safety situation at this intersection has deteriorated rapidly in recent years. The wide road and lack of speed management infrastructure meant that vehicles would often turn the corner at high speeds while pedestrians were crossing.
Secondary school No. 48 and secondary school No. 61 are both near to the Maldybaev – Akhunbaev intersection at a distance of between 300-500 metres. Previously, it was difficult to walk here safely and comfortably as well as being largely inaccessible for people with disabilities or other mobility limitations. There are high levels traffic around the crossing, which lacked signals for pedestrians crossing and visibility of the traffic lights was poor.
Improvement works at both sites were carried out in 2022 by the Infrastructure Department of the Republican Traffic Police (SMEU). The design and installation meet international best practice and serve as an example for future work being carried out in the city. This project was the first time that a pedestrian refuge island has been built in Kyrgyzstan.
In December 2022, Chinara Kasmambetova, Founder and Director of Public Association ‘Road Safety’ was named by Kutbilim News as one of the Best People of 2022 for her work to improve road safety by upgrading infrastructure at these intersections.
At the intersection on Maldybaeva – Akhunbaev the traffic light was often not visible because they only faced either north or south. If a big truck was in the right-hand lane it blocked the traffic light and you had to be guided by the pedestrian lights or by traffic on Akhunbaev St. Now the situation has changed. The new traffic lights are LED. They are clearly visible and cover all sides of the road. Now it’s safer to drive and see the traffic light signals both from the left and right lanes.
Before, the zebras here were all crooked and they were in the wrong place. Now it is safer to cross when the traffic light is on. I used to cross the road only by looking at other people – if people crossed then I also crossed. But now they put a new traffic light and I can cross myself easily.
Public Perceptions on Impact of Pedestrian Infrastructure Upgrades around School Zones in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
With technical support from Make Roads Safe Hellas, we have conducted a series of surveys to evaluate the extent to which these interventions have improved road safety around the three schools based on perceptions of those stakeholders who are most exposed to the road environment every day as they travel to or from school. This includes: students, teachers, and parents. (2023)
EASST partner in Kyrgyzstan named one of ‘Best People of 2022’ for school road safety upgrades
Chinara Kasmambetova has been named by Kutbilim News as one of the Best People of 2022 for her work to improve road safety at two dangerous intersections in Bishkek.
School communities feel safer after road safety upgrades in Bishkek
Infrastructure can have an important impact on guiding pedestrian and driver behaviour. This must be an important consideration when developing a road safety strategy.
This project was implemented in collaboration with our local partner Public Association ‘Road Safety’ with support from the Safer Roads Foundation and FIA Foundation.
The work was carried out by the Infrastructure Department of the Republican Traffic Police (SMEU).
