Active Cities’ Post

Kids and biking. Learning in bicycle playgrounds. Active transit approaches from Europe.

At Bax, every day is #WorldBicycleDay 🚲 The consultants at our five Europe offices often cycle to work, putting our beliefs and words into action every day. Yesterday was United Nations #WorldBicycleDay, highlighting cycling's benefits: affordability, environmental friendliness, and personal health. In projects such as Active Cities and BATS - Baltic Sea region Active mobiliTy Solutions, we are involved in supporting cities and municipalities, along with knowledge partners, to implement active infrastructure and engage with local communities to make active mobility a viable way of getting around our cities. 🗣 "The entire road network has been designed to make it seamless and comfortable to get from Point A to Point B. But if you take that same logic and then design a cycling network using neighbourhood streets, traffic calming, and other methods that don’t necessarily require the massive capital investment of building out cycling infrastructure, you create a network that becomes competitive, if not better to walk or cycle from a time and convenience perspective." - Melissa and Chris Bruntlett on the Active Cities podcast. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/esmdHk4g

Let’s be clear - walking and cycling needs to be the basis for mobility, not the alternative and minority option. Why? Mental health, chronic disease, social justice, environmental sustainability, economics, climate, liveability for all and interpersonal fabric, along with safety, children’s rights and simply city workability are all going backwards and yet the intractable argument between infrastructure, health, and transport remains. Quoting The Age: “Children have been losing a lot of their rights: the rights to public space, the right to roam, the right to be autonomous, the right to claim the city,” he says. Brommelstroet says every child should have the freedom to travel to school by themselves. In the Netherlands, three-quarters of high school students walk or ride. Studies show they are also the happiest in the world. “In Melbourne, just 20 per cent walk or ride – and that’s down from about 33 per cent over the past 50 years. The number of children being driven to school has jumped from 20 per cent to 64 per cent, government data shows.” “Something is going “terribly wrong” with young people’s mental health … designing cities to encourage connection to other people is part of the solution.” Everyone deserves to be able to walk or ride. The Dutch know that! #active #walking #cycling #placemaking #change

‘What is the bike bus movement and why are kids loving it so much?’ - Momentum Mag In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable transportation for children, the bike bus has emerged as a beacon of change, connecting communities and schools while promoting active and eco-friendly lifestyles. Originating in European cities, this trend has now become a global movement, reshaping the way kids commute to school. Cycling to school proves to be part of a multifaceted solution to various challenges posed by the modern, screen-dominated lifestyle for children. Beyond the evident physical advantages, such as muscle strength and cardiovascular health, cycling contributes significantly to mental well-being by providing a means to de-stress and enhance mood through the release of endorphins. The cognitive benefits are notable as well, with improved motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and spatial awareness. Social interaction, better concentration in school, reduced screen time, and the potential for instilling a lifelong love for cycling further underline the comprehensive benefits of this simple yet impactful activity for children and young people. “#BikeBus is joy and freedom. Community bike rides to school make kids happier, more awake, and ready to learn.” The bike bus movement is not just a passing trend; it’s a testament to the collective power of communities striving for positive change. As bike buses proliferate around the world, the narrative of passive commutes is being rewritten into one of active, engaging journeys. With each pedal stroke, we move closer to less congested streets, air quality improvements, and children who connect with their peers outside the classroom walls, creating a future that values sustainability, community spirit, and the joy of a shared ride. It emphasises the demand for child-friendly, healthy, and safer streets, reinforcing the commitment to prioritising urban spaces for the well-being of children. 🏡🚸🏫🚲 🚴🏼♀️ 🚲 🚴♂️ 🚲 🚴🏿 🚲🚏🌳🏘️ #ActiveTravel #Walking #Scooting #Wheeling #PlaySufficiency #Play #FreePlay #PlayStreet #SchoolStreets #StreetPlay #HomeZones #Playces #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #Splace #UNCRC

Education, education, education. If we knew what we knew now about our impact on the world and the alternative choices we could make what would we have done differently? What would we have influenced over the last decades about our built environment and the way we use it? Some marginal but important changes or influences perhaps? Steer influencing understanding and behaviours of secondary school students and up for an award! #wearesteer #travelchoices #sustainability #activetravel #schools

🚲 Why bicycles are important for education? The #2023GEMReport shows that in many countries, including Azerbaijan, Norway, Czechia, Denmark, and Beijing in China, the majority of school trips are made on foot or bicycle. Cycling to school is an active and environmentally friendly alternative, offering numerous benefits for education: 🚲 Improved attendance and learning: cycling to school can lead to improvements in absenteeism, dropout rates, and learning outcomes. 🚲 Cost savings: while the initial cost of a bike or e-bike is higher, the long-term savings compared to bus fares make bicycles a smart financial choice. 🚲 Time efficiency: cycling can save students 3+ hours per day compared to walking or riding buses in congested urban traffic. 🚲 Physical and cognitive benefits: regular physical exercise may improve cognitive functions, contributing to better academic performance. However, traffic safety and poor road conditions are significant concerns in some countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, most primary schools are not accessible via paved roads. Technological developments can help address these cycling challenges: ✅ E-bikes can be low-priced, robust, and chargeable with solar energy. ✅ GIS can identify the safest walking or cycling routes to school by mapping road accidents and pinpointing 'hot spots' to avoid. ✅ Mobile phones and GPS tracking can provide reassurance to families by monitoring children's commutes in real-time. This #WorldBicycleDay, we celebrate the power of bicycles to empower students worldwide. Discover more: https://bit.ly/3wRWlOq

Synergy of Community and Technology in Urban Mobility. Power of Bottom-Up Solutions. In our jurney for sustainable urban development, the spotlight often shines on grand, top-down initiatives. Yet, the true catalysts for change might just be the grassroots, bottom-up solutions crafted by the communities they serve. The bike bus stands out as a beacon of innovation, particularly in addressing the needs of our most vulnerable commuters - our children. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀? Imagine a convoy of cyclists, each pedaling to the rhythm of daily life, on a journey to school, work, or local services. This is the essence of a bike bus - a community-driven initiative that follows a fixed route with scheduled stops, akin to its motorized counterpart but far greener and more engaging. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀: • 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: By prioritizing our most vulnerable group - children - bike buses offer a safe, supervised commute, reducing the anxiety of parents and the risk to young cyclists. • 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: Mornings and afternoons around schools can be chaotic, with cars clogging the streets. • 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: Beyond environmental benefits, the physical activity involved in cycling enhances community health, making active travel a part of our daily routine. • 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Bike buses knit communities closer, turning what was once a mundane commute into an opportunity for social interaction and connection. But as we pedal towards a greener future, let's not overlook the role of cutting-edge technology in enhancing our journey. Read Jordi Honey-Rosés detailed research: https://lnkd.in/dvG8-7sm) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: A Fusion of Human and Technological Stewardship As we champion these community-led bike buses, let's also embrace the technological allies that stand ready to assist us. Here's how technology can amplify the impact: • 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: Through tools like Lane Patrol , with their effective #AI tools we can identify and mitigate potential risks on our routes, ensuring a safer ride for everyone. • 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Data-driven insights from #cyclerap enable precise improvements, tailoring our infrastructure to the needs of every cyclist. If you are in #Barcelona the coming weekend you might wanna UnBlock the Future of Mobility by FACTUAL https://lnkd.in/dFhTrPpg #UrbanMobility #SustainableCities #BikeBus #impact #cycling #transport

🚘“What if I could be a bike?” From the children's standpoint, how do they define a child-friendly city? How can we inspire our children to think about cities in new and alternative ways? What is their understanding of mobility? How can they imagine cities that are sustainable, livable, and inclusive? How can they find their role in creating people-oriented cities? What impact do stories and narratives have in this regard? We need to develop a new holistic perspective for our children to look at the human-scale city, and cycling is the best lens to build such a perspective. The Car That Wanted to Be a Bike is an excellent resource to help us do so. 👇Read the book review via the link below: https://lnkd.in/eiR7Ammc 📚The Car That Wanted to Be a Bike -Author: Lior Steinberg -Illustrator: Rita Kruglova -Publisher: Humankind -Age Range: 3 - 6 Years Urban Cycling Institutehumankind

🚲 Join us on a transformative 5-day cycling journey exploring lived utopias! I am so excited that this long-hedged dream is coming true in this Summer Semester. Together with Verena Seufert and with the support of Kelzy Jepsen and Julie Fortin I will be offering the new 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 "𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐔𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐬"🌿Students will experience transformative teaching styles and interact with local projects while cycling along the Neckar for 5 days. Students can choose their case studies and co-design the journey. 🦄 Through our visits to lived #utopias (projects challenging the status quo and offering positive alternative ways of doing), we will gain insights into their challenges and goals in contributing to sustainability transformations. Participants will connect them to theories like sharing economy, food as commons, solidarity economy, centring care work approaches or whatever they find most interesting… How can theories be practically applied in projects? I am looking forward to learning from and with the participants! 🎈 🦔 By seeing and interacting with utopic projects, we will feed our imagination. At the same time, the goal of 𝐜𝐨-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 #𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 together for 5 days is challenging the way we do things. Raising questions like: How do we learn and want to learn? What do we learn? How can we embody change? How do we (want to) contribute to positive change? The module will also foster individual and collective #reflexivity 🦎 🦖 . Students will deepen questions in their personal reflection journals which will be part of the grading. We will also be facilitating group discussion during the trip to learn with each other and become aware of diverse perspectives. Building on these two elements will ensure that reflections will not be just a nice add-on but a central element to the course. We also try to design this learning experience #inclusively. For example, most of the expenses will be covered by the funding we receive for the project T.R.E.E. which is promoting innovative teaching approaches. A small excursion fee will be charged. If this is hindering participants, we are happy to find a solution. (This is crucial since 37.9% of students in Germany were at risk of #poverty in 2021 and money can be a limiting factor for excursions). We also invite participants with special needs to approach us and we will use our creativity to co-create solutions together. ➡ ✍ If you are lucky and a student at the Universität Hohenheim you can find all details on how to apply here in hohcampus course 4303-431 https://t1p.de/hg07n Limited spots available! Fun Fact: The (student) working group sustainability (AKN) co-initiated the project T.R.E.E. which includes this module, accompanied by another one in autumn on transforming local food systems, reflection days and method training on transformative teaching. More information coming soon.  

🚴♀️📚 Join the Movement: Cycle to School Week! 🚴♂️📚 Are you ready to make a positive change and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for our children? Next week, 25 to 29 September is the The Bikeability Trust and Sustrans Cycle to School Week. It's a great opportunity to encourage young people to scoot or cycle to and from school. -- 📅 25 to 29 September 📍 Your front door -- 🚴♀️ Why Should You Get Involved? 🚴♂️ 1️⃣ Health & Wellbeing: Cycling (or walking) is a fantastic way to keep our children active and engaged. It improves physical fitness, mental health, and boosts their confidence. 2️⃣ Eco-Friendly: By choosing to cycle to school, we collectively reduce carbon emissions and promote cleaner air quality for everyone. 3️⃣ Traffic Relief: Fewer cars on the road mean less traffic congestion, making our roads safer and more efficient for everyone. It also saves you £££. 4️⃣ Community Building: Cycling to school is a great opportunity to connect with neighbours, classmates, and friends, fostering a sense of community spirit. 🌈 How Can You Join In? 🌈 Well the main thing it to encourage your kids to get on their scooter or bike next week. You could club together with some other parents and get a group of children to cycle together. You can also make a cycling pledge. Just fill in the form on the link below, and be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new Frog children’s bike! You can pledge to do one of these: 🚲 Swap one car journey for a bike journey 📚 Cycle to school everyday 🧭 Discover somewhere new by bike 👩👩👧 Go for a family bike ride Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ec4gg7ti 👋 Active Teams helps employers develop a healthier workforce through the incredible power of regular activity and exercise.