Cycling to school and hobbies – children and young people in Espoo often travel by bike
In Espoo, cycling is promoted as part of everyday life in day care centres and schools. The aim is to support sustainable mobility, increase daily physical activity and strengthen children’s traffic safety skills from an early age. All movement is good for you, and cycling is a great way to add more activity to everyday life.
In primary and lower secondary education, cycling plays a key role in school journeys and during the school day. Pupils are encouraged to walk or cycle to school whenever it is safe to do so. However, for safety reasons, cycling to school is not recommended for pupils in grades 1–2. Independent and active school journeys support children’s wellbeing, alertness, and the development of social skills. At school, pupils practise traffic rules, are encouraged to wear helmets, and learn about traffic safety as part of instruction and physical education lessons.
In many schools, cycling is also used to expand learning environments. Cycling trips to local nature areas and various cycling events are popular, and schools have extra bicycles available for pupils to borrow. This ensures that all children have the opportunity to take part in activities.
In early childhood education, sustainable mobility is supported, for example, through electric cargo bikes, known as Kiddiebuses (Muksubussi in Finnish), allowing day care groups to go on excursions in the local area. Our general upper secondary schools also promote cycling by making bicycles available for students to use and encouraging physical activity as part of the school day.
Cycling is particularly visible in Espoo during Cycling Week in May, when day care centres and schools organise events related to cycling and traffic education. Safe and sustainable mobility is encouraged through play, practice and joint activities.