Sustainable mobility is a key element for children’s health and environmental protection. UNICEF ITALIA, FIAB and CNR ISSIRFA have launched the publication “Free wheels” To analyze the use of the bicycle in the home-school journey and promote effective solutions for a more sustainable future
An investigation into active mobility
On April 2, 2025, UNICEF ITALYthe Italian Federation of Environment and Bicycle (FIAB) and the CNR Issirfa they presented the publication “With free wheels – let’s start from the school and let’s go by bike”. This is the first survey on the use of the bicycle as a means of transport for the home-school journey and a collaboration aimed at encouraging sustainable mobility between children and young people.
The publication was born with the aim of promoting a change in daily movement habits, favoring the use of bicycle as an alternative to the car. In addition to reducing CO emissions2 And improve air quality, active mobility represents a fundamental aspect for the well -being and healthy development of the little ones. A active safe mobility is essential to guarantee children a happy childhood and healthy development.
Environmental risks and what can be done
On a global level, one in four children, under five years of age, dies from avoidable causes linked to environmental factors, such as air pollution, the quality of the water and the use of chemicals. Making cities more livable and safe for children is therefore a priority, and the promotion of active mobility solutions, such as bicycle, can contribute significantly to this goal.
In Italy, several cities have adopted measures to encourage sustainable mobility in school areas. Among these, the school areas, which guarantee greater protection for cyclists and pedestrians, and initiatives such as the two-legged and the legsin which groups of students go to school by bicycle or feet, accompanied by volunteers along safe paths.
The data on sustainable mobility in free wheel analysis
According to the Fiab evaluation “Cycle municipalities” On the degree of cycling of the municipalities in Italy, out of 141 municipalities assessed, those who have not increased or decreased the bicibus lines over the years have been almost all (92.9%, or 131 out of 141); 41% (59) did not change the situation of the Pedibus lines; 53.5% (76) maintained the existence of school areas constant.
In the case of the bicibus lines in 10 Municipalities that carried out interventions, 7 increased the lines, 3 have repealed them; In the case of the Pedibus lines 37 municipalities have reduced them to them, while 45 have increased them; The case of the school areas in which the Municipalities that preferred to give up some, or all, were 19, were more evident while those who established them 44.
The analysis “Free wheels” He also analyzed the mobility of the families of some pupils of a school in Rome and one from Verona. According to the investigation: 95.6% of parents can go by bicycle, but only 16.2% use it to accompany or go together with their children who go to school with their bicycle, compared to 83.8% who do not use it; 61.4% of those who do not use the bicycle to bring children to school use the car, while 36.8% go on foot.
Obstacles and opportunities for more sustainable mobility
The main factors that hinder the use of the bicycle for the home-school journey are the weather conditions, the absence of safe cycle paths and the lack of adequate infrastructure. However, 84.2% of the parents interviewed said it would be willing to use the bicycle if the safety conditions for cyclists in the city were improved.
Promoting the bicycle between children and teenagers means not only to encourage an ecological means of transport but also to encourage their autonomy, the sense of independence and the knowledge of the rules of road safety. Read/Download publication.