The Netherlands is committed to more bicycles for children from families with financial challenges.
The campaign “That's how you cycled”, which calls on Dutch people to donate disused children's bicycles, is a partnership between various important organizations and government institutions, each with their unique contribution to this socially important initiative.
State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management has taken the initiative by donating the first children's bicycle to the ANWB, as part of the Christmas special of the “That's so cycled” campaign. Together with ANWB Children's Bicycle Plan and Stichting Leergeld, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management calls on Dutch people to donate their no longer used children's bicycles. These bicycles are refurbished and made available to children from less fortunate families.
“We want as many people as possible to cycle, even those who cannot afford it at the moment. Having access to a bicycle at a young age ensures that you can participate. It increases independence and is good for health. With this Christmas campaign we want to collect as many bicycles as possible for children in the Netherlands. A nice thought this month: that your bicycle will get a new life with a child who can put it to good use.”
In the Netherlands, with a population of which 20% over 6 years old rarely or never cycle, and where 1 in 10 people do not own a bicycle, there is a discrepancy in bicycle ownership. With 23 million bicycles in the country, a significant portion of which remain unused, it is remarkable that there is an average of two children in every school class without a bicycle. The ANWB Children's Bicycle Plan, in collaboration with municipalities and Stichting Leergeld, offers a solution by giving these unused bicycles a new life.
State Secretary Heijnen emphasizes the importance of cycling for the development and health of children and sees this Christmas campaign as an opportunity to provide as many children as possible with bicycles. Sébastiaan Laarman of the ANWB underlines the importance of cycling for the social inclusion of children, and Gaby van den Biggelaar of Stichting Leergeld points out the impact of a bicycle on children's participation in social activities.
“The municipality of The Hague believes it is important that everyone in our city has access to a bicycle. Cycling is healthy, clean and easy. And it keeps our city accessible. That is why the municipality will continue to work in the coming years to give more people access to a bicycle. For example, the municipality has joined the City Deal Cycling for Everyone and has the Children's Bicycle Plan in The Hague, which was held for the third time this year.”
The municipality, represented by councilor Arjen Kapteijns, has actively joined this initiative. The municipality of The Hague recognizes the importance of cycling for health, the environment and urban mobility. With projects such as the City Deal Cycling for Everyone and the Children's Bicycle Plan, the municipality strives to increase the accessibility of bicycles for all residents, especially children.
“Every child needs a bicycle for the ANWB, so that all children can participate in society. With a bicycle, children can cycle to school, to friends or choose another secondary school. A bicycle expands the world and at the same time ensures that children learn to cycle at a young age and gain insight into traffic situations.”
The ANWB Children's Bicycle Plan is an initiative of the ANWB, aimed at collecting, refurbishing and distributing used children's bicycles. The ANWB, a long-standing advocate of mobility and road safety in the Netherlands, sees the Children's Bicycle Plan as an extension of its mission to make mobility accessible to everyone.
Tuition Foundation
The aim of this foundation is to prevent social exclusion of children from families with fewer financial resources. By working together with schools, municipalities and social funds, Stichting Leergeld offers support in the form of school supplies, contributions for sports clubs and therefore also bicycles.
“Many families have no money for a good and suitable children's bicycle. Through this Christmas campaign, we as the Leergeld Foundation hope to make more children from families with financial worries happy with a bicycle. With a bicycle, children can continue to participate with their peers and go to the sports club and school, for example,” says Gaby van den Biggelaar (director of Stichting Leergeld).
