Budapest among least child-friendly cities in Europe

A recent European survey evaluating child-friendly transportation in major cities paints a concerning picture for Budapest. Out of 36 cities assessed, the Hungarian capital ranked 30th, scoring just 16 percent in the “Urban Mobility for Children” ranking, part of the Clean Cities Campaign led by the European Federation for Transport and Environment.

The study assessed cities based on three key indicators: the presence of “school streets” (areas around schools where traffic is restricted during peak times), the proportion of streets with speed limits of 30 km/h or lower, and the availability of protected cycling infrastructure. These factors are considered crucial for ensuring that children (and by extension, all city residents) can move about safely, independently, and sustainably.

While Paris leads the ranking with a 79 percent score (thanks to 89 percent of its streets being under 30 km/h limits and nearly half of its bike lanes physically separated from traffic), Budapest lags significantly behind. The city has zero officially designated school streets, and only 44 percent of its roads have a 30 km/h speed limit. The situation is even bleaker when it comes to safe cycling: only 4 percent of Budapest’s cycling infrastructure is physically protected from motor vehicle traffic.

Experts say these shortcomings deter not only children but also adults from cycling. Many respondents in recent surveys cited a lack of safety as the main reason for avoiding bike travel in the city.