Children can hardly ride a bike anymore - what is the reason?

Children can hardly ride a bike anymore - what is the reason?

Berlin, Deutschland - Berlin - An alarming trend is emerging: children can ride a bad bike! Kirsten Lühmann, the designated president of the traffic watch, raises the alarm and explains that many elementary school children have difficulties with the basic motor skills. "Missing body feeling" is a main reason why the little ones stumble when balancing, climbing or slalom walking. Without these basics, cycling becomes a real challenge - and safe participation in road traffic becomes a gambling!

motor deficits and parental support

The situation is explosive: According to the Federal Institute for Roads, around 50 percent of the children had a impeller before cycling, which has a positive effect on their mobility. But here is the big one: Around a third of the parents hardly support their children or at all in learning cycling. In cities, the motor problems are more dramatic than in the country, but there are also worrying deficits.

The traffic watch has reacted and developed numerous materials to promote body feeling in kindergarten. "We used to learn that in the playground, today we have to create our own programs," said Lühmann. Another aspect that alarmed: Not all children have access to their own bike. In order to counteract this, the traffic watch started the fundraising campaign "100 years - 1,000 bikes". The aim is to equip youth traffic schools with new bicycles and helmets to promote the mobility of the children.

Die Verkehrwacht, an association with a proud 60,000 members, has been committed to traffic safety since its foundation in 1924. Lühmann is expected to be elected as the new President at the Annual General Meeting in Berlin today. The 60-year-old police officer, who was sitting for the SPD in the Bundestag, has a big task in front of her!