Following the success of last year's European Mobility Week, the event will be held again this year, from 16 to 22 September.
On average, 75 per cent of the European Union's population lives in a city. Children who grow up in urban areas have the
advantages that city life can offer, but they also need to learn how to play safely, inside and outside the home.
Unfortunately, most city streets are not safe for children. Traffic poses a constant danger. Nonetheless, children
should be able to play outdoors with their peers.
Good traffic policies that take into account the needs of young people are not only vital to their social development
but also to their health and physical well-being. In most urban areas today, parents are not inclined to let their
children go near traffic, or to play in the street. Parents drive their children to school rather than let them ride a
bike or walk to school. Not only does this deprive city children of contact with their peers, it is also a missed
opportunity for regular exercise. Lack of exercise is one of the main causes of weight problems, including obesity.
Children who are driven to school also depend on their parents for transport. They are not able to get around by themselves
until they are old enough to drive a car.
European Mobility Week aims to provide cities with tools and ideas to make their streets a safer place for 'the
decision-makers of tomorrow', that is, children.
