Child Safety on Bicycle Seats. A Study Evaluating the Need for Additional Markers to Increase the Visibility of Children When Transported by Bicycle

The number of cyclists and bicycles in the urban environment have been increasing substantially in recent years. Bicycle seats, trailers, and cargo bikes allow parents to transport their children on their bicycles switching from the car into greener mobility options. Nevertheless, safety becomes a priority when transporting children by bicycle. Different cities experience different levels of cycling culture and development. Lisbon (Portugal) is a city with poor cycling infrastructure and low cycling modal share, and cyclists find it difficult to ride safely due to the lack of dedicated infrastructure and the constant sharing of the road with reckless drivers. There is a gap in the literature of studies looking at child visibility and safety when transported by bicycle, especially in cities where cycling is starting to grow. The methods used in this study are the survey by questionnaire and the artifact analysis. These methods allowed the understanding of the demographics, cycling characteristics and habits, how children are being transported on the bicycle, and which safety strategies are in use. In addition, the analysis of bicycle rear seats in use provided evidence of which information or visual cues are available for signaling a child on board. This mixed-method study provides a comprehensive understanding of the safety strategies used by parents and the design features of bicycle seats that promote child safety. The results highlight that, although parents feel relatively safe when transporting their children by bicycle, additional safety features to increase visibility are most welcome.