A report on child cycling safety

Abstract

The research project identifies and examines various issues related to the cycling safety of urban school children in Hamilton aged between eight and 15 years of age in Hamilton. The report outlines, discusses and evaluates the various negative and positive variables that affect the level of cycling safety experienced by urban school children. Research-based recommendations are provided with three purposes in mind. First, some are intended immediately to enhance the effectiveness of existing physical and educational provisions. Second, some are intended to promote discussion of possible amendments to the strategies and overall structure of responsibility and authority of bodies of control, such as local and regional authorities, as well as interest and advocacy groups with a view to achieving enhanced safety provisions through new ideas and approaches . Third, and most fundamentally, these two kinds of recommendations are designed to achieve short-term and sustained long-term reductions in the rates of cycling accidents involving urban school children. As such, the underpinning objective of this report is to create an accessible resource of information and recommendations relevant to any party interested in the safety of child cyclists in urban areas.