Nearly 80% of children never cycle to school, despite over two-thirds of parents saying it would be their preferred method, RedClick research reveals
- Only 5% of children cycle to school daily, with 8% cycling to school occasionally.
- 81% of parents believe their children cycle less than they did at the same age.
- The leading barriers to cycling to school are the distance (54%), school bags being too heavy (41%), unpredictable weather (39%) and a lack of confidence in cycling (22%).
- Parents identified improved infrastructure (48%) and a “bike to school” bike purchase scheme (28%) as solutions to encourage children to cycle to school.
- Over half of parents (51%) think cycling has made their child more independent.
Nearly 80% of children never cycle to school, despite an overwhelming 70% of parents claiming that cycling would be their preferred method of doing the school run, according to new survey from RedClick, carried out by IrelandThinks in July 2026.
Over half of parents think cycling has made their child more independent
The research found that only 5% of children cycle to school on a daily basis, with 8% cycling to school occasionally. However, among families whose children do cycle, more than half of these parents reported that cycling has increased their child's independence in day-to-day life, helping them build confidence, develop decision-making skills, and become more self-reliant.
Children cycling less than their parents did
81% of parents also report that their children cycle significantly less than they did at the same age. Parents attributed this decline primarily to two factors, screen time and indoor habits, with 42% of respondents pointing to the fact that children stay indoors on smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles much more in today’s world.
Another reason given was the prevalence of modern conveniences and transport alternatives, including cars and public transport with 37% of respondents citing these developments and improvements in recent years.
Key Barriers Holding Families Back
When asked why cycling isn't feasible, everyday practicalities and safety concerns dominated responses across all age groups.
The leading reasons were; the distance to school is too far (54%), school bags are too heavy (41%), unpredictable weather (39%) and a lack of confidence cycling with their children (22%) all of which were identified as major hurdles for parents navigating busy roads.
For parents of secondary school students, social and personal factors present additional barriers. Distance remains the leading challenge (54%), followed closely by unsuitable school uniforms (49%), a lack of confidence cycling (46%), and concerns over the impact on personal appearance (42%).
Improved infrastructure and ‘Bike to School Scheme’ identified as solutions:
Despite the challenges, the data presents solutions to increase active travel. When asked what would encourage a higher take up of cycling, 48% identified additional safer, improved cycling infrastructure as the single most effective intervention, while 28% called for the introduction of a targeted 'Bike to School' scheme, similar to the ‘Bike to Work' scheme.
RedClick’s Commercial Director, Lisa Silver commented :
"These figures show that while families want to cycle to school, practical issues and lack of confidence remain significant barriers."
"Parents and students want to cycle, but they feel ill-equipped to do so. If we want to reverse this generational decline, we must support cycling incentives for families."
“The results of this survey show that targeted bike purchase schemes, safety courses, and continued investment in cycling infrastructure could make a measurable impact in enabling children to cycle to school."
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