Mobility through the eyes of children
Public space and infrastructure tailored to an 8-year-old works for everyone, young and old. And yet we are only marginally succeeding in making work of quality space for people and not for machines. Perhaps the problem is all those adults who stupidly forget to look at our mobility a little more often through the eyes of a child. Time for more child perspective in our traffic!
Why is autonomous mobility so important?
We already wrote it in the book Wandering with a Purpose: Choosing Locally for Child Friendliness: It is still far from natural for children to go out on their own.
So let us change that soon. All of society has everything to gain from giving children maximum support so that they can go out on their own. By walking around, playing and cycling in their neighbourhood, they get to know it better and participate in society. By definition, children move around actively. As a result, they move more, with a positive effect on their mental and physical health, as well as reducing the number of cars on the road.
So let us plan and organise our public space and infrastructure in such a way that children can and may travel autonomously. Let's work on safe streets and neighbourhoods, on a clear public space. Above all, let us listen to children and opt for a future-oriented mobility policy tailored to people.
More initiatives for more child perspective
Cycling school XS
School transport plans
Traffic Education Routes
Car-free school days
School route maps
School on the Counter
Time to change perspective
A more equitable mobility system has only advantages. In terms of road safety, sustainability, integration and social welfare for young and old. Mobility is a powerful lever to fight injustice and inequality. High time to opt for future-proof mobility tailored to children. Seize every opportunity to let children express their views on our mobility as often as possible. You will be amazed at the impact.
Waar loopt het mis?
Towards a 'Collective Child Perspective' for mobility
Since the second half of the last century, governments have done everything possible to please motorists. Today, we realise that the balance has been tipped too far and that our streets should and can be much more than space to move vehicles in. There is a growing realisation that scarce public space, especially in cities, should also be social space. So time to break with old habits and automatisms.
Fortunately, besides Mobiel 21, there are many other organisations working around the child perspective and autonomous mobility for children and young people. In 2019, for instance, the Gezinsbond launched the Kindnorm, which states that policymakers should take into account the abilities and limitations of children and young people in their traffic policy. And that that traffic policy should also aim to gradually enable children and young people to move more and over greater distances independently.
Still looking for good examples, research, insights and information? Then these organisations are definitely worth getting to know. Are there any you think are still missing? Let us know. Together, we can knock even harder on the same nail: that of child perspective in our mobility.
This organisation looks through the eyes of a child
VIPs on the Bicycle
Demanding more space for young cyclists in traffic? We at Mobiel 21 did just that with a striking guerrilla action on one of the busiest streets in Leuven. And so, in full morning rush hour, 10 third-year children rode to school accompanied by seven bodyguards. You bet they were in the spotlight 😎
We help you look at mobility differently
Meer kijken vanuit de ogen van kinderen? Ja graag, maar hoe begin je daaraan als volwassene? Hoe vermijd je die tunnelvisie die er ons toe gebracht heeft om de auto onevenredig veel plaats en belang toe te delen op onze wegen? Deze opinieartikels en onderzoek helpen je alvast in de goede richting te kijken. Zo weet jij waarop te letten als het gesprek straks weer eens over onze mobiliteit gaat :-)