Pupils from two Barking schools have been decorating pedestrian crossings in efforts to improve road safety.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken MearsThe stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

Thames View and George Carey students sprayed colourful patterns onto roads using stencils, as well as redesigning cycling and walking signs, to highlight safer routes for cyclists and walkers.

Last week, the pupils cycled from George Carey School in Minter Road to the river Thames, to test out their improved signage and crossings, and on Tuesday, they’ll complete a guided walk from the Sue Bramley Centre to the river.

The improvements were designed as part of Barking Riverside’s Healthy New Towns Project, in which Thames View ward residents were asked for their views on tackling barriers to walking and cycling in the area.

Head of the project, Sarah McCready, said: “The project spent this summer talking to people about the barriers they face when trying to get active around Thames Ward. We presented these findings at an event in the summer, and they designed the trial interventions to tackle some of these issues.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken MearsThe stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

“The stencils are a direct evolution of a “yellow brick” road idea that a resident pitched to us. We will be monitoring the use of this temporary route to see the type of impact that it has.”

Barking and Dagenham Post: The stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken MearsThe stencils were designed as part of Barking Riversides Healthy New Towns Project, where people were consulted on how to make streets safer. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)