Cities in Germany and other countries in Europe lag behind in European rankings for child-friendly mobility – tens of thousands demonstrate
- Press release Berlin/Brussels/Cologne/Verden, 14.05.2025
A new European study by the Clean Cities Network shows: German and other European cities are not prepared for children – and are lagging behind in the traffic turnaround. School streets are the exception, safe routes to school are lacking, 30 km/h speed limits and protected cycle paths are rare.
Paris, London and Helsinki prove that things can be done differently. That is why tens of thousands of people are demonstrating across Europe from May 5 to 25 as part of the “Streets are for everyone” action weeks – with Kidical Mass bicycle demonstrations, school street campaigns and bike buses. They demand roads that are geared towards the needs of children – and thus make life more liveable for all generations.
Simone Kraus, spokesperson for the Kidical Mass action alliance: “We are not making absurd demands. For years, we have been focusing on a traffic turnaround with children in mind: school streets, 30 km/h, safe cycle paths. This is a win-win situation for all generations! It’s great that the study provides data to prove precisely this connection. Now it’s time for many cities to learn from the European role models, show the courage to change and finally get started!”
Paris Rues aux écoles : Avenue Lamoricière 12e
Courage for change is needed now
Now is the time for those responsible in local authorities and in government. They must make child-friendly mobility a priority and take action. Because even in many countries, there is no lack of solutions. It is not the legal situation that is failing. Cities and municipalities have more room for maneuver than they currently do. But regional and national governments have a responsibility: clear, verifiable targets, targeted funding programs and a reform of road traffic law that puts people first are needed.
Jens Müller, Deputy Director of the Clean Cities network: “Children who move a lot are happier, healthier and learn more easily at school. Safe routes to school should therefore be the norm in every city. Our neighboring countries show how this can be done. If you walk through Paris today, for example, you hardly recognize the city. Especially thanks to school streets, safe speed limits and protected cycle paths, which can also be implemented quickly and at little cost elsewhere.”
Streets for children, cities for all
Research proves it: Child-friendly cities create a better quality of life for everyone. The 2025 city ranking on child-friendly mobility compares 36 European cities and assesses the extent to which children are given priority in mobility planning. It is based on three key indicators that are in line with the recommendations of the EU Commission and UNICEF:
- Proportion of elementary school with school streets
- Proportion of the road network with 30 km/h or less
- Proportion of protected cycling infrastructure
For Germany, Munich (12th), Berlin (15th), Cologne (17th) and Hamburg (18th) were examined. The conclusion: there is a clear need to catch up in all three categories. Paris performs well in all categories. London is the leader in the number of school streets in front of elementary school and Helsinki, along with Paris, has a particularly large number of protected cycle paths. These cities show how clear political goals and bold decisions with low-threshold measures can lead to rapid change. Other cities in all European countries can – and must – act now.
Paris Pont de la concorde
- Find a action close to you: Overview Cities
- You will find all information about the Study here
About the Kidical Mass action alliance:
Kidical Mass is a worldwide movement. With actions such as Kidical Mass bike demos, school streets and bike buses, the action alliance is committed to safe and liveable streets – for children and all generations. In spring and fall 2024 alone, over 200,000 people took part in more than 1,100 actions as part of the action weeks. At the heart of the movement are over 700 local organizations and initiatives – decentralized, self-organized and strong together. The alliance is supported by supra-regional partners such as ADFC, Campact, Changing Cities, Clean Cities Campaign, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, Greenpeace, Parents For Future, Pro Velo Schweiz, VCD and Zukunft Fahrrad.
The Clean Cities network brings together more than 120 civil society organizations across Europe that are committed to safe, healthy and affordable mobility in cities. Among other things, the network publishes themed city comparisons. The current comparison on child-friendly mobility is the third edition since 2021.
Hashtags: #KidicalMass #StreetsForKids #StreetsForEveryone #SafeStreetsNow
