Tampere region study finds teens rarely cycle to school

Walks and bike commutes to school decline with age in the Tampere region, according to a 2025 survey that collected 21,517 responses, Tamperelainen reports.

The study shows that the majority of elementary and middle-school students have a one-way school commute of 1–3 kilometers, while secondary students typically travel 6–10 kilometers. Younger pupils are more active, walking or cycling even for 4–10 kilometer trips more often than older students.

Among high schoolers, the share of cycling on short trips dropped by 15 percentage points, while walking rose by 8 percentage points. The survey also lists barriers: dangerous road crossings, heavy traffic, and unsafe routes hinder younger children; vandalism or theft, bad weather, lack of motivation, and clothing issues limit older students. For completely avoiding walking or cycling, the helmet requirement is the main barrier for elementary students, while lack of motivation is more pronounced in upper grades.

According to Tamperelainen, the 2025 Tampere region school travel and mobility survey collected 21,517 responses, with a distribution across elementary, middle, and secondary levels that aligns with the figures reported earlier. It also confirms the distance pattern: most elementary and middle-school pupils have a one-way commute of 1–3 kilometers, while secondary students typically travel 6–10 kilometers.