By conducting road safety analyses around Rio de Janeiro’s school zones, WRI Brasil helped the city secure a $135.2 million World Bank loan that’s funded safer streets around city schools and expanded cycling networks.
The Challenge
Every day, thousands of children in Rio de Janeiro walk to school along streets with fast-moving traffic. Unsafe crossings and limited sidewalks do little to separate them from oncoming cars.
In 2023 alone, nearly 900 children in Brazil died from traffic crashes, according to Brazil’s ministry of health. Meanwhile, local data show that nearly half of Rio’s students walk to school. Many report fear of speeding vehicles, harassment and a lack of accessible paths. These challenges are even more prevalent in low-income neighborhoods.
Unsafe streets also discourage greener forms of travel like walking or biking, pushing more commuters toward polluting cars and worsening the city’s air pollution. Yet limited budgets often prevent road redesigns that create safer spaces for pedestrians.
WRI’s Role
WRI Brasil helped Rio de Janeiro secure financing to create safer streets around its public schools.
WRI Brasil researchers conducted 30 in-depth road-safety audits to identify critical risks around schools and develop actionable design recommendations. This research provided the analytical foundation used by city agencies and the World Bank to structure loan priorities around school-area safety, expanding cycling networks and designing safer streets for pedestrians.
The Outcome
The World Bank provided a $135.2 million loan to Rio de Janeiro to create safer streets for school children. Already, the city has implemented traffic-calming measures in 57 areas near schools. This includes actions like installing crosswalks, narrowing roadways, expanding sidewalks and reducing speed limits for cars. More than 200 schools have participated in education and awareness programs.
Early surveys indicate increased safety awareness and a growing preference for walking and cycling in treated areas.
Beyond improving child safety, the loan also provides funding for a broader sustainable mobility agenda. This includes expanding cycling lanes, improving pedestrian safety in low-income neighborhoods and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The experience offers a replicable model for cities across Brazil and Latin America.
