The true costs of our mobility choices
Health benefits
Discover the often-overlooked benefits of cycling, for your health and for society
Discover all 4 subjects of the thematic
4
Youth’s Health
Children replicate adults’ behaviours and tendencies. Also, if less active, they are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants and at risk of road collisions. Considering that, it is necessary to provide them with the proper tools and accompany them so that they adopt a healthy lifestyle, notably through regular biking.
A Crisis of Inactivity
Already an issue for adults, the rate of inactivity of Quebec’s children is preoccupying, and is increasing every year. Notably, since the 1980’s, a reduction of Quebec’s youth cardiovascular health is observed, raising major concern.
As the Wolrd Heath Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of activity for children and adolescents every day, only one young Quebecer out of two is sufficiently active.
In 2018-2019, only 49% of Canadian children were sufficiently active
In 2022-2023, 37.1%of Quebec boys were sufficiently active
In 2022-2023, 24.4%of Quebec girls were sufficiently active
56.8%of 17 y/o boys have a respiratory capacity under recommendationss
69.9%of 17 y/o girls have a respiratory capacity under recommendations
Data sources :
- (Elementary School) ParticipACTION (2024). Rallying for resilience: Keeping Children and Youth Active in Changing Climate. The 2024 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
- (High School) Institut de la statistique du Québec (2024). Enquête québécoise sur la santé des jeunes du secondaire. Résultats de la troisième édition - 2022-2023
- (Respiratory Capacity) Leone, M., Levesque, P., Bourget-Gaudreault, S. et al. (2023). Secular trends of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents over a 35-year period: Chronicle of a predicted foretold. Frontiers in Public Health, Volume 10
Credits:
- (Elementary School) © Anne Williams
- (High School) © Ville de Longueuil
- (Respiratory Capacity) Murillo de Paula on Unsplash
How to Get to School?
A lasting tendency since the 1970’s, the car has imposed itself as a way to get to school.
Even if they usually live nearby their school, young Quebecers walk and ride less and less to school, to the benefit of school buses and individual cars. If walking remains an important aspect of children’s mobility, it becomes marginal when they begin high school.
That being said, there is one positive to be noted: around 70 % of children attending elementary school in Montreal and in midsized cities (ex.: Trois-Rivières) occasionally walk and bike in their neighborhood.
Sources: (Evolutions) Le transport actif chez les enfants, de 2010 à 2018. Agence de la santé publique du Canada - (Cities) Rothman, L., Schwartz, N., Cloutier, M.-S. et al. (2022). Child pedestrian and cyclist injurie, and the built and social environment across Canadian cities: the Child Active Transportation Safety and the Environment Study (CHASE). Injury Prevention - (Bubble) Redécouvrir le chemin de l'école (2009). Ministère des Transports du Québec
An Even more Beneficial Physical Activity
Beyond all the general health benefits exposed on this page, biking has positive impacts especially for youth during their cognitive, social and emotional development.
When their mobility solely relies on cars, youth are dependent on their parents, reducing the possibilities to meet other people of their age and exploring their environment. Active mobility provides an autonomous way to get around and a feel of belonging to the community that is beneficial for youth’s development.
As the mental health of high school students has been deteriorating for several years (i.e.: increased psychological distress, anxiety, depression, eating and attention disorders), it has been shown that active transportation is a good measure to contribute to people’s wellbeing, specifically for children.
By allowing to interactions with other people on daily trips, active transportation reinforces and creates social connections, which are essential for youth development. They are more likely to recognize places and people they come across, to interact with them and feel more satisfied with their trip. Furthermore, around the age of 4 to 5 years old, interaction with close ones is actively sought by children during physical activity, impacting their long-term mobility habits.
Physical activity like biking contributes to children’s cognitive development. The same goes for adults, and is especially beneficial for the elderly to help maintaining cognitive capacities.
Experiencing bike trips early in life contributes to lasting active transportation habits.
Youth Bike Safety
Because of their developing cognitive, physical and perceptual capacities, youth are less predictable, easily distracted and less visible, especially the younger ones. They also tend to have more difficulty evaluating riskier situations.
This reinforces the need for proper cycling infrastructures for users of all ages and abilities. Unfortunately, in Canada, central boroughs usually have more developed cycling infrastructures than peripheral ones, where usually resides more children.
Youth Cyclist Injuries in Quebec
41
injuries on average per year for under 18 y/o (2018-2021)
Compared to Adults Cyclists
2 to 4
times higher risk of injury among child cyclists
Compared to child pedestrians
4
times greater risk of injury among child cyclists
Compared to children riding in cars
18
times higher risk of injury among child cyclists
With Traffic Calming Measures
- 14%
risks of injury for children cyclists
Sources:
- (Youth Injuries) Institut national de santé publique du Québec (2022). Prévention des traumatismes non intentionnels. Surveillance et statistiques. Tableau 4
- (Risks) Institut national de santé publique du Québec (2011). Sécurité des élèves du primaire lors des déplacements à pied et à vélo entre la maison et l'école au Québec
- (Traffic Calming Measures) Rothman, L., Schwartz, N., Cloutier, M.-S. et al. (2022). Child pedestrian and cyclist injurie, and the built and social environment across Canadian cities: the Child Active Transportation Safety and the Environment Study (CHASE). Injury Prevention
Another Piece of the Puzzle: Road Safety Education for Cyclists
In Quebec, there are various programs and activities teaching children how to bike safely. These help children develop their skills, but also contributes to reassure parents in regard of autonomous. Such programs are also a way to accompany the next generation so that it can adopt a more active lifestyle and learn how to be respectful of other road users.
Vélo Québec’s program Cycliste averti, which has been active since 2015, is one of them. Directed towards 5th and 6th graders, it focuses on riding safely and autonomously.
After going through the program, a rise of 75%of children are biking to school
After going through the program, 66%of students estimate that they are more likely to ride their bike more often
After going through the program, an increase of 30%of the students estimate to have a better knowledge of road signage
After going through the program, 86%of the students consider being better cyclists
After their children went through the program, 70%of parents feel comfortable enough to allow their child to bike to school
Data source: Vélo Québec (2023). Rapport d'évaluation Cycliste averti. Année scolaire 2022-2023
Credits:
- (Usage, Knowledge) © Maxime Juneau
- (Skills) TippaPatt/Shutterstock.com
- (Parents) © Ville de Longueuil
