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.
Judit Szegő, the Hungarian project manager of the Clean Cities Campaign, pointed out that such urban planning failures go beyond transportation. “Child-friendly cities are better for everyone,” she emphasised. Slower traffic, cleaner air, and safer streets result in more people choosing to walk or bike, reducing noise, emissions, and the public health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Even cities with similar infrastructure challenges, like Barcelona, have launched innovative solutions to promote safer travel for kids. According to Qubit, one such initiative is the “Bicibus”: a convoy of schoolchildren cycling together to school with adult supervision and sometimes police escort, offering safety in numbers.
Ultimately, the campaign stresses that political will is the single most important factor in making cities safer and healthier for children. Cities that prioritised these goals saw rapid and measurable improvements. For Budapest to move up in such rankings and provide a truly livable environment for future generations, bold action and investment in sustainable urban mobility are urgently needed.
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