Helsingborg: Cultivating bicycle culture in schools

The City of Helsingborg confronts a dual challenge rooted in both safety concerns around primary schools and the broader goal of fostering a culture of sustainable mobility. The city intends to enhance safety in the vicinity of schools by actively promoting alternative modes of transportation, particularly walking and cycling, among students and school staff members. This initiative seeks to discourage car usage for school commutes, encouraging age-appropriate children to embrace active mobility, either independently or accompanied by an adult. With an overarching aim to instil healthy and environmentally friendly travel habits, the city envisions school staff as positive role models for students, contributing to a safer and more sustainable school environment.
 

Despite substantial investments in infrastructure, including dedicated bike lanes and parking facilities, the city faces a paradox: a lower rate (11%, the lowest rate in the region) of cycling compared to similar-sized cities and the regional average. The challenge lies in understanding the barriers preventing families with children from choosing bicycles for their commutes and identifying factors limiting recreational cycling in Helsingborg. The city acknowledges a gap in knowledge concerning incentives and deterrents for increased cycling. In light of the existing infrastructure and available data, the focus shifts towards comprehending citizen behaviour to cultivate a distinct "bicycle culture" in Helsingborg.