Safe Traffic Netherlands: "Teach children to cycle better!"

Fewer and fewer children are learning how to ride a bike. Especially in large cities, the number of children with cycling experience is decreasing. And that is a bad thing according to Veilig Verkeer Nederland.

Every year, a cycling exam is held for children in groups 7 and 8. However, the number of children who can participate in the cycling exams decreases annually. The cause is often that children have too little experience on the bike – for example, because their parents find cycling in the busy city scary – or that they do not have a bike at all to participate. According to Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN), it is concerning that fewer and fewer children feel confident on the two-wheeler.

Consequences of lack of cycling experience
By spending many hours cycling, children develop traffic insight, which can prevent unsafe situations on the road. Veilig Verkeer Nederland warns that a lack of cycling experience among children can cause problems when they go to secondary education and suddenly have to cycle a long way. The lack of cycling experience could also be detrimental to a child's development: they are less independent and cannot always join friends and outings.

Research into the cycling problem among children
To assess the true extent of the cycling problem, VVN will conduct research into children's cycling behavior and seek a solution. VVN may offer cycling lessons at primary schools in the future.

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