Bicycle Network: Government

Children the policy focus

12 July 2012. The right of children to be able to ride bikes safely in the community has emerged as a major policy priority at the international conference on cycling recently staged in Vancouver.

The delegates at Velo-city Global 2012 were told that cycling would advance rapidly if societies respected and protected the right of children to learn to ride, and to be free to explore and experience their local communities in a bicycle.

If environments were designed with this aim in mind, riding routes would be more attractive to all types of riders.

"For the children: The Charter of Vancouver" was developed by the European Cycling Federation and is based on the United Nations 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Charter explains that bike riding means means that children are physically active, can explore their communities and learn about their environment.

"Cycling allows children to explore their environment and more fully access their communities, move longer distances, and travel to school, shops, parks and other places important to the daily lives of children, the Charter says.

"Cycling, and other forms of active transportation, means that children can create a substantial contribution to the livability, safety and prosperity of their neighborhoods, towns, cities and the environment"

The Charter calls on authorities

a) To adopt a goal to improve the situation of children around the world in part thourgh sustainable transport policies and strategies;

b) To include cycling as part of all sustainable transport policies and strategies;

c) To adopt a target of providing opportunities to cycle for all people around the world;

d) To promote active mobility for people of all ages and abilities and to improve the safety and accessibility of roads and public spaces, especially for children;

e) To develop and promote programs that encourage walking and cycling to school;

f) To develop and provide cycling skills training to all children at an early age; and

g) To cooperate closely with cycling advocacy and promotion organizations and other citizens’ organisations to encourage more children to cycle more often.

A full copy of the Charter is here.