Detailed description (English): We started to organize bike rides dedicated to kids and parents with kids.
These bike rides are organized with high-security demands. We are cooperating with municipalities, transport police, volunteers, schools and organizations that work with kids.
A first kidical mass bike ride in Slovakia was organized in Bratislava in the year 2023, in the 2024 we organized 3 rides till now.
In the cities of Trnava, Malacky and Bratislava. In Bratislava we had around 350 participants, in Trnava it was around 300 and in a smaller city of Malacky we had around 70 participants.
On every bike ride we have a little stretching for kids before the ride, we come with various sound systems on cargo bikes with children dedicated music.
After the bike ride we always finish at some interesting place (like pump track or park) where we have a theater for children or some other activities.
Target group(s): Children and parents with children
Objectives: Safe and Accessible Cycling Infrastructure: Organizers often demand the development of child-friendly cycling infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes, traffic-calmed streets, and safe intersections. These infrastructure improvements are crucial for ensuring that families feel safe while biking with their children.
Safe Routes to Schools: One of the key demands is the creation and maintenance of safe routes for children to bike or walk to school. This includes advocating for dedicated bike lanes, safe crossings, and reduced speed limits around schools to make it easier and safer for children to commute by bike.
Traffic Calming Measures: Kidical Mass advocates often push for traffic calming measures in residential areas, such as lower speed limits, speed bumps, and pedestrian-friendly zones. These measures help create safer environments for children and families to bike and walk.
Increased Investment in Bike Infrastructure: Organizers typically call for increased public investment in cycling infrastructure, including bike lanes, bike parking, and bike-sharing programs that are accessible to families. They also advocate for the maintenance of existing infrastructure to ensure its safety and usability.
Education and Awareness Campaigns: Organizers demand the implementation of educational programs and awareness campaigns that teach both children and adults about bike safety, road sharing, and the benefits of cycling. This includes incorporating bike safety education into school curricula.
Community and Government Support: Kidical Mass organizers often seek greater support from local governments and community organizations in promoting family-friendly biking. This can include policy changes, funding for cycling initiatives, and partnerships with schools, businesses, and community groups.
Better Connectivity: Organizers often demand better connectivity between bike paths, parks, schools, and residential areas to create a seamless and safe network for family cycling. This involves ensuring that bike routes are well-planned and integrated into the broader transportation network.
Inclusive Policies: Kidical Mass advocates for cycling policies that are inclusive of all ages and abilities. This means designing infrastructure and programs that accommodate young children, parents with cargo bikes or bike trailers, and families with different levels of cycling experience.
Environmental Sustainability: Some Kidical Mass organizers also emphasize the importance of cycling as a means of reducing traffic congestion, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting environmental sustainability. They may demand policies that encourage more people to choose biking over driving, especially for short trips.
Partner: Znepokojene matky NGO, Cyklokoalicia NGO, municipal police, transport police, municipality.
Slovakia