Back to School: How Children Commute Safely and Independently?

Every August, thousands of children across Finland begin their school journey, many for the very first time. But what makes this moment truly special isn’t just the excitement of new backpacks and books. It’s the way Finnish children travel to school: safely, independently, and often on their own.In Finland, the start of the school year is a community-wide event. Police officers are stationed near schools to ensure a safe beginning, especially for first-time students. This tradition reflects Finland’s deep-rooted values of trust, safety, and independence. Bike to school, is it safe?

In Finland, it’s common for children as young as 7 or 8 years old to walk or bike to school alone. This is supported by a culture of trust and safe urban design, including traffic-calmed zones and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Municipalities also invest in safe routes to schools to ensure year-round safety. Parents play a key role in shaping commuting habits. Studies show that physically active parents are more likely to have children who walk or bike to school. Their support and examples are crucial in building long-term habits.

How Do Finnish Children Get to School?

Children in Finland commute in ways that emphasize both safety and autonomy:

• Walking and biking are the most common methods, especially in urban and suburban areas. Finland’s infrastructure with well-maintained sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian crossings makes this possible even in snowy winters.
• In rural areas with long distances, children often take a school taxi or bus provided by the municipality.
• In cities, older students may use public transportation, often with free or discounted passes.

Parental drop-offs are less common than in many other countries but still used occasionally, especially for younger children or during harsh weather.

Why Walking or Biking to School Matters?

Active commuting offers a wide range of benefits – for both children and the community:

• Improves physical fitness, including cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and coordination.
• Reduces stress and anxiety, while boosting mood and focus.
• Enhances academic performance – studies show that physical activity before school improves attention and learning
• Builds independence, time management, and decision-making skills.
• Helps children develop spatial awareness and self-confidence as they navigate their route.
• Fewer car trips mean cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduces traffic congestion around schools, making the area safer for everyone.
• Encourages social interaction and a stronger sense of community as children walk or bike together.

Want to explore the Finnish education system up close? Join our Study Tours and see it in action!

Do you think children in your country could walk or bike to school safely and independently? Why or why not? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Written by Katja Mäkelä

Sources:

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Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. (2021). Recommendation on physical activity for children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years. Publications of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. 2021:21.

Henriques-Neto & al. (2020). Active Commuting and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2721.

Hillman & al. (2009). The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children. Neuroscience, 159(3),1044–1054.

Martínez-Martínez & al. (2019). Physical Activity and Commuting to School in Spanish Nine-Year-Old Children: Differences by Gender and by Geographical Environment. Sustainability, 11(24), 7104-.

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Sun, Y., Liu, Y., & Tao, F.-B. (2015). Associations Between Active Commuting to School, Body Fat, and Mental Well-being: Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study in China. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(6), 679–685.

Suominen & al. (2024). Correlates of active commuting to school across two generations: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2024;0(0).