On the morning of September 17, upon arriving at the German School in Barranquilla, I witnessed an unusual scene: a student dressed as a zebra, accompanied by another student holding a stop sign, was organizing the pedestrian crossing in front of the school. This intervention is part of a school initiative that seeks to teach students and the community to respect zebra crossings and promote safe mobility.
The educational project includes horizontal signage at various points on campus to help children from a young age learn to walk independently and use crossings correctly. It also encourages parents and teachers to set an example by using the pedestrian crossings to navigate, rather than crossing anywhere.
Despite these efforts, implementation weaknesses persist. Some markings are deteriorating, and many drivers—including some parents—ignore intersections, stopping over them or failing to yield, putting pedestrians at risk. The work of the student dressed as a zebra is reminiscent of successful programs in cities like La Paz (Bolivia) and Quito (Ecuador), where these figures have humanized traffic and fostered a culture of respect.
The German School's experience is inspired by the German educational model, a country where children receive driver safety training from early childhood. Starting at age 6, they are taught to walk to school independently, with safe routes identified by families and reinforced by school programs.
In addition, starting at age 9 or 10, many German children prepare to obtain a "Fahrradführerschein" or bicycle driving license, following theoretical and practical exams taught in collaboration with the local police.
Replicating these practices in cities like Barranquilla would require a sustained public commitment to improving pedestrian infrastructure, training traffic officers with a pedagogical focus, implementing citizen education campaigns, and, above all, transforming the collective mindset regarding the role of pedestrians in the urban ecosystem.
Some will say this is unthinkable in Colombia, but at least we're trying to design a plan so that today's very young children become the generation that grows up with new customs. In about 20 years, we could see the fruits of this in civic culture and other aspects of lifestyle, with real benefits for society as a whole.