Initiative details
Our mobility systems and public spaces are rarely designed with children and teenagers in mind. And it shows. Over the past decades, research shows that children’s independent mobility (CIM) has been increasingly constrained by car-oriented planning and socio-cultural norms that emphasise supervision and risk aversion (Karsten, 2005; Shaw et al., 2015; David et al., 2025).
Young people experience cycling, walking, public space and urban navigation differently and can therefore provide policymakers and mobility professionals with essential insights into what makes urban mobility safe, accessible, and enjoyable.
Building on these insights, the Child Standard Coalition (“Coalitie Kindnorm”) was established in Belgium. The coalition brings together 30 organisations from civil society, the research community, the youth sector, and the mobility sector, with the aim of advancing child-friendly streets and public spaces. A first milestone was the publication of a vision statement in April 2025, which is also available in English.
The coalition continues to operate across the domains of policy development, communication, and research, promoting the Child Standard among local, regional and national authorities to support its effective implementation. The initiative has gained recognition at multiple governance levels (local, regional, and international) and was awarded the Flemish Traffic Safety Award in March 2026.
Young people experience cycling, walking, public space and urban navigation differently and can therefore provide policymakers and mobility professionals with essential insights into what makes urban mobility safe, accessible, and enjoyable.
Building on these insights, the Child Standard Coalition (“Coalitie Kindnorm”) was established in Belgium. The coalition brings together 30 organisations from civil society, the research community, the youth sector, and the mobility sector, with the aim of advancing child-friendly streets and public spaces. A first milestone was the publication of a vision statement in April 2025, which is also available in English.
The coalition continues to operate across the domains of policy development, communication, and research, promoting the Child Standard among local, regional and national authorities to support its effective implementation. The initiative has gained recognition at multiple governance levels (local, regional, and international) and was awarded the Flemish Traffic Safety Award in March 2026.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Policy makers
Public authorities
Children 0-16
Topic
Create awareness
Knowledge building and sharing
Organisation details
Mobiel 21
Association
Belgium
Flanders
Contact name
Dries Janssens
Telephone number
0032494045835
dries.janssens@mobiel21.be
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
The coalition consists of more than 30 partners and supporters representing an innovative, multidisciplinary initiative that brings together public authorities, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and citizens to co-produce policy from diverse perspectives.
Moving beyond knowledge exchange, the coalition translates regional traffic safety ambitions into concrete and measurable local outcomes through the development of tools, guidelines, and coordinated efforts in research, dissemination, and capacity building. The experience of the Child Standard Coalition further demonstrates how cross-sectoral collaboration contributes to structural change and strengthen the role of civil society in shaping mobility policy.
A full list of partners can be found here: https://www.mobiel21.be/nl/coalitie-kindnorm-medestanders
Moving beyond knowledge exchange, the coalition translates regional traffic safety ambitions into concrete and measurable local outcomes through the development of tools, guidelines, and coordinated efforts in research, dissemination, and capacity building. The experience of the Child Standard Coalition further demonstrates how cross-sectoral collaboration contributes to structural change and strengthen the role of civil society in shaping mobility policy.
A full list of partners can be found here: https://www.mobiel21.be/nl/coalitie-kindnorm-medestanders
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
In the initial phase, the focus was on building a dynamic coalition bringing together a broad range of representatives. Subsequently, the coalition members drafted a vision statement outlining the key principles for creating streets and public spaces where children and young people can move around independently, safely, and actively.
Meanwhile, thanks to active collaboration and lobbying, the concept of a Child Standard has been incorporated into the Flemish and Federal Belgian mobility plans and the Flemish Plan for Youth and Children’s Rights. In recent months, representatives of the coalition have led workshops and talked at conferences (Velo City 2025, Flemish Road Safety Congress), seminars (Sustainable Mobility Network Inspiration Day, Public Space Seminar, Save Outdoor Play, etc.).
The coalition is currently developing the following actions:
• a campaign to count cycling children in May in Flanders;
• in class sessions in Flanders with children to get their direct perspective on the Child Standard;
• putting a ‘child’s perspective’ as a main focus for the Belgian Mobility Week (16-22 September). Also see the inspirational brochure for local authorities;
• the creation of a children’s advisory group to actively contribute to and shape the coalition’s actions;
• an international working seminar in October to translate the Child Standard into concrete local policy using design thinking methodologies.
Meanwhile, thanks to active collaboration and lobbying, the concept of a Child Standard has been incorporated into the Flemish and Federal Belgian mobility plans and the Flemish Plan for Youth and Children’s Rights. In recent months, representatives of the coalition have led workshops and talked at conferences (Velo City 2025, Flemish Road Safety Congress), seminars (Sustainable Mobility Network Inspiration Day, Public Space Seminar, Save Outdoor Play, etc.).
The coalition is currently developing the following actions:
• a campaign to count cycling children in May in Flanders;
• in class sessions in Flanders with children to get their direct perspective on the Child Standard;
• putting a ‘child’s perspective’ as a main focus for the Belgian Mobility Week (16-22 September). Also see the inspirational brochure for local authorities;
• the creation of a children’s advisory group to actively contribute to and shape the coalition’s actions;
• an international working seminar in October to translate the Child Standard into concrete local policy using design thinking methodologies.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
We have learned the following lessons during the 1,5 years of collaboration:
• Collaborating with partners from different policy areas requires a carefully considered approach to forming coalitions that is balanced in content, ambitions and activities.
• Clear transparency regarding roles, contributions, expectations, interests and responsibilities are key factors for success in forming a strong coalition.
• We have not chosen the easiest path, but just as we strive to work on mobility policy in a bottom-up manner with children and young people through the child standard, we, as coalition partners, adopt the same approach towards politicians, supported in this by various government bodies. We opt for a practical approach.
• It is crucial to make a vision statement practically applicable. Local actors are the ones who must implement the child standard, so it must be clear how they can do this, what kind of support they can count on, and what goals or ambitions they can achieve through this.
• The child standard is a universal principle, as it is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which every child in Europe, and beyond, is entitled. That is why our approach must remain easily transferable to other contexts and policy frameworks.
• Collaborating with partners from different policy areas requires a carefully considered approach to forming coalitions that is balanced in content, ambitions and activities.
• Clear transparency regarding roles, contributions, expectations, interests and responsibilities are key factors for success in forming a strong coalition.
• We have not chosen the easiest path, but just as we strive to work on mobility policy in a bottom-up manner with children and young people through the child standard, we, as coalition partners, adopt the same approach towards politicians, supported in this by various government bodies. We opt for a practical approach.
• It is crucial to make a vision statement practically applicable. Local actors are the ones who must implement the child standard, so it must be clear how they can do this, what kind of support they can count on, and what goals or ambitions they can achieve through this.
• The child standard is a universal principle, as it is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which every child in Europe, and beyond, is entitled. That is why our approach must remain easily transferable to other contexts and policy frameworks.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
We continuously monitor the impact of the coalition. We convene regularly to track progress on our ambitions, goals, and activities. After the first working year, we evaluated the collaboration through a short survey among the various members. This led to several practical improvements while also affirming our shared direction. In addition, we recently conducted research to count the number of children cycling in Flanders, which will serve as a baseline for measuring progress in the years ahead. Finally, we track all external communications related to this initiative, including our reach through speaking engagements at conferences and external events.
What has been the effect of the activities?
All of the actions mentioned above have reached a diverse audience of local and regional policy makers. We also involve children and young people in our activities to keep our pulse on the situation and come up with solutions tailored to their needs. The coalition continues to operate across the domains of policy development, communication, and research, promoting the Child Standard among local authorities to support its effective implementation. However, it remains difficult to say, let alone to measure, how many road crashes, injuries or deaths the initiative has already avoided.
Having said that, all of the coalition partners are convinced, and backed by (international) research, that designing streets and spaces to be safe, accessible, and engaging for children and adolescents makes them better for all road users. Children and adolescents can be understood as a critical benchmark: mobility systems and public spaces that are safe and navigable for an eight-year-old are likely to work for people of all ages, across diverse communities and contexts.
Having said that, all of the coalition partners are convinced, and backed by (international) research, that designing streets and spaces to be safe, accessible, and engaging for children and adolescents makes them better for all road users. Children and adolescents can be understood as a critical benchmark: mobility systems and public spaces that are safe and navigable for an eight-year-old are likely to work for people of all ages, across diverse communities and contexts.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
In the end, the Child Standard is a universal principle, based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which every child is entitled. Therefore the Coalition promotes a paradigm shift from adapting children’s behaviour to existing systems towards designing mobility systems that respond to their needs and experiences, generating broader societal and health benefits for everyone in the long term.
The Coalition’s approach remains easily transferable to other contexts and policy structures. Also, the vision statement is universally applicable and available in English. Local actors are the ones who must commit themselves to implement the Child Standard, so it must be clear how they can do this, what kind of support they can expect, and what goals or ambitions they can achieve through it.
The Coalition’s approach remains easily transferable to other contexts and policy structures. Also, the vision statement is universally applicable and available in English. Local actors are the ones who must commit themselves to implement the Child Standard, so it must be clear how they can do this, what kind of support they can expect, and what goals or ambitions they can achieve through it.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
Coalition partners have presented insights and spoken during a wide range of (networking) events including a two-day training session for youth officials, the Flemish Road Safety Conference (video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7bblPg3qBQ), Velo-City, the Fietsberaad Expert Group etc.
Furthermore, each partner commits to communicating about the Child Standard Coalition through its own communication channels. A separate Research task group will also conduct a meta-analysis of existing research related to child-friendly mobility. The overview, ready by September, will allow existing research and knowledge to be further disseminated and translated for local policymakers. At the same time, the meta-research will also identify blind spots so that coalition members can initiate additional research, fueling the Child Standard’s uptake.
Furthermore, each partner commits to communicating about the Child Standard Coalition through its own communication channels. A separate Research task group will also conduct a meta-analysis of existing research related to child-friendly mobility. The overview, ready by September, will allow existing research and knowledge to be further disseminated and translated for local policymakers. At the same time, the meta-research will also identify blind spots so that coalition members can initiate additional research, fueling the Child Standard’s uptake.
