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Benefits
Benefits of Cycling for All Children
- There are many health befits for children, with contributions to physical fitness being the most researched benefit.1 Cycling helps children build overall fitness, setting the foundation for a healthy lifestyle that can continue into adulthood.2
- Kids who start cycling early are more likely to stay active as adults. 2,which can reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer and other chronic conditions. 3
- Physical activity in general, including cycling, has been found to be linked to lower depression and anxiety and increasing children’s self-esteem. 4
- Learning to ride a bicycle can help children build their balance and coordination skills. 5
Specific Benefits of Cycling for Autistic Children
- Learning to ride a bike has been shown to have positive impacts for autistic children. These include improving executive function 6, gaining self-confidence, autonomy and fostering peer connections as they master a new skill. 7
- In a study of a one-week bike camp, all 15 participants showed improved motor skills and most were able to ride independently at least 70 feet. 7
- Cycling has been found to improve coordination, balance, and overall motor abilities for children with ASD when using structured, gradual practice tailored to each child’s needs. 7
- When children with ASD gain the ability to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, they can master a practical motor skill and gain a sense of independence. 8
- After their children participated in a learn to bike program, parents reported improved, peer and family relationships, as well as improved self-esteem and social engagement among children.8
Risks
Risks of Cycling for All Children
- Safety concerns related cycling can include traffic, weather conditions, and lack of safe riding areas. 9
- According to Parachute (https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/cycling/), cycling injuries can be severe or fatal for children and 73% of cycling deaths in Canada involve motor vehicles.
- Environments where bicycles share space with cars or where speed limits are high can pose safety challenges. 10
- Cycling places children at a higher risk of sustaining injuries, particularly due to their limited experience. 11
- Children who are not wearing a helmet can significantly raise the likelihood of severe injuries. 10
- Children who begin cycling earlier (around 4–5 years) are more likely to experience accidents in their first two years of cycling compared to those who start later (around 6–7 years). This is linked to limited psychomotor development and reduced ability to handle traffic situations. 11
Specific Risks of Cycling for Autistic Children
- If helmet use is not universal, the children are most at risk (e.g., those with coordination or attention challenges, such as some with ASD) may still face higher chances of severe injuries. 12
- Children with disabilities are more vulnerable to being hit by vehicles, whether walking or biking as compared to children without disabilities. 13
- For many children with disabilities, learning to ride a two-wheel bike is difficult due to the motor skills required. Autistic children often learn to ride at later ages compared to their typically developing peers. 14
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