Leuven children receive Bike Report from Mayor Ridouani

Fietsschool XS focuses on children who cannot yet cycle or need extra guidance. The graduation ceremony took place on Blauwputplein behind Leuven station. In four lessons, the children were taught the necessary Cycling Skills. Through professional guidance and playful exercises, they learn to cycle step by step and move safely in traffic.

Fietsschool XS is an initiative of De Fietsschool and Mobiel 21 and is supported by Fonds NN, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. This year, 60 children can learn to cycle with confidence thanks to the lessons of Fietsschool XS.

Research by Mobiel 21 shows that almost 10% of Leuven children aged 6 to 12 cannot ride a bike. In the first grade (6 to 8 years old), this even rises to 16%. These are often families in which the parents themselves cannot, or cannot properly, cycle, do not have a suitable children's bike at home or do not have a safe place to practice. Busy car traffic also deters parents.

"Fortunately, with Fietsschool XS, there is now a solution to this growing problem," says Pieter Vanden Abeele, community manager at De Fietsschool. He emphasises the success of Fietsschool XS: "With our approach, we succeed in eliminating the bicycle arrears in 75% of participating children. Through targeted guidance and by directly involving parents in the lessons, we ensure that children can cycle and continue to cycle with confidence."

"We take care to actively involve parents or other caregivers during the lessons," says Ine Bosmans, instructor at Fietsschool xs. "We show them how we teach their children to cycle so they can apply that knowledge at home afterwards. It is crucial that parents further support their children so that they are sure to keep cycling. In addition, Fietsschool XS also organises workshops to teach parents traffic rules and safety tips."

Fietsschool xs has a broad, positive impact. Children who have learned to ride a bike gain more self-confidence and can, for example, easily go on school trips. And they also get to other important places such as sports clubs, youth clubs, friends, etc. The cycling courses for children at Fietsschool xs literally change lives.