Editorial view
As long as safe journeys to school remain the exception in Germany, cycling will, unfortunately, remain a limited option for many children. Yet it would be so simple – and so lovely: pedalling off in the morning, breathing in the fresh air, getting there under their own steam. That is what we wish for all children as they start the new school year. - Barbara Merz-Weigandt, Editor-in-Chief of MYBIKE
Children enjoy cycling – but it can also be scary
The figures speak for themselves: 88 per cent of children who cycle generally enjoy or really enjoy cycling. And 35 per cent already use their bikes to get to school. This is a good thing, as scientific studies show that those who get around independently exercise more, develop better spatial awareness and form more social connections.
Yet it is precisely this independence that is taken away from many children by unsafe road conditions. According to the 2025 Cycling Monitor, 78 per cent of six- to 13-year-olds say they are afraid of large vehicles such as lorries and buses. 75 per cent are afraid of being hit by a car – and not without good reason.
“Children learn to make their own decisions and find their way around traffic independently. This gives them strength and confidence.” – Caroline Lodemann, ADFC National Managing Director
The accident figures are alarming
The children’s fears are well-founded: in 2024, a total of 27,260 children under the age of 15 were involved in road traffic accidents. 38 per cent of the six- to 14-year-olds injured in these accidents were travelling by bicycle. The typical times for travelling to and from school are particularly dangerous: from Monday to Friday between 7 am and 8 am and between 3 pm and 5 pm, the number of accidents rises dramatically.
So it’s no wonder that the number of children aged ten and over cycling unaided is falling significantly. A nationwide survey of 167 primary schools also found that only five per cent of journeys to school could be classified as safe. Five per cent – that’s alarmingly low.
How to practise the journey to school properly: 5 tips from the ADFC
Hundreds of thousands of children are now starting Year 1. But for older pupils, too, the start of the school year is a good time to take another close look at their journey to school. The ADFC recommends:
1. Choose the safest route – not the quickest Planning together: Where are the traffic lights? Where is there less traffic? Which junctions are easy to navigate? Where is the 30 km/h speed limit? The most direct route isn’t always the best one.
2. Practise repeatedly – under real-life conditions Not on a quiet Sunday morning, but at the times when children are actually on their way to school. Ride alongside your child, explaining where they need to stop or push. Be patient, ride slowly – and don’t forget to praise them at the end.
3. Identifying hazards together Entrances and exits to properties and car parks are particularly treacherous, as children are often overlooked there. This also includes blind junctions with parked cars or electricity boxes that obstruct the view. Stop together, look around and think: what is the safest way for the child to cross this spot?
4. At some point: letting go Once everything is in place, let the child ride ahead and make their own decisions. The adult rides behind and only intervenes when it’s really necessary.
5. Decide on the right time together When is a child ready to go it alone? This is something both the child and the parents should decide together – without any pressure. Both need to feel confident about it.
Important: Children under the age of eight must cycle on the pavement; children aged between eight and nine are allowed to do so. From the age of ten, the normal rules for cyclists apply.
ADFC calls for: a 30 km/h speed limit, school streets and school route plans
Parents can practise – but they cannot build safe roads. The ADFC therefore makes it clear what politicians must deliver:
- 30 km/h as the standard speed limit in built-up areas instead of the previous exception
- Child-friendly cycle paths and safe junctions expanded to cover the whole area
- School routes Closed to traffic directly in front of schools – either permanently or at least temporarily at the start of the school day. Vienna, Paris and, more recently, Hamburg are leading the way: less traffic congestion outside school gates, more space for children to arrive safely – and fewer dangerous situations caused by parents dropping off their children by car.
- School route maps, which incorporate safe cycle routes and are developed in collaboration with pupils – so that local authorities can see where improvements are urgently needed.
Barbara Merz-Weigandt
Editor-in-Chief