Why Fewer Kids Are Biking and How We’re Paving the Way Back
Written by Gillian Horn, Development Director
Last month, The Atlantic published an article describing the steep decline in biking among kids in the US. The number of kids riding their bikes regularly has dropped from 20.5 million in the 1990s to just 10.9 million in 2023, with fewer than 5% riding “frequently.”
The author of the article echoes what we’re often shouting from our handlebars – a bike is so much more than just a set of wheels! Bicycles foster independence, health, spatial awareness, and resilience.
So what’s going on?
If you’re a parent like me, you’ve probably come across the discourse surrounding Jonathan Haidt’s recently published book, The Anxious Generation. He makes the argument that parents are overprotecting their kids in the real world while underprotecting them in the virtual world, and that the play-based childhood (where kids roamed freely on bikes until the streetlights came on) has been replaced by a screen-based one.
But in some cases, this instinct to overprotect isn’t misplaced because our streets really have become more dangerous. Since the 1990s, speed limits have increased, vehicles have become larger and heavier, and public planning has prioritized cars over people. As a result, kids have lost access to safe public spaces where they can play independently, and they are riding bikes less & less.
In Idaho, traffic deaths reached a 20-year high in 2023, and that number has continued to increase each year since. This is why we’ve been meeting with federal, state, and local lawmakers, advocating for safer streets. One of the biggest barriers families face is finding safe spots to learn and practice riding their bikes.
So what can we do in our community right now?
We are thrilled to announce Boise’s first permanent traffic garden, officially open to the public on August 23rd, and will be used year-round for BBP’s Bicycle and Safety Hour (BASH) program that teaches bike safety! But more importantly, it’s a community space where kids & families can discover the freedom, joy, and empowerment that comes from riding a bike.
A traffic garden is a child-sized streetscape that teaches bike and pedestrian safety in a fun, interactive way. The Boise Bicycle Project, in partnership with SHIFT (a program of the Office of Highway Safety) and Boise Parks & Recreation, has succeeded in bringing this innovative learning environment to Ann Morrison Park. You can join us in this celebration! See more information using the link below.
