All across Europe, pupils are tested for their skills in safely riding a bicycle. These tests usually combine theory and practice: they do not only focus on ensuring that the pupils have sufficient knowledge, but also sufficient skills and the right behaviour to safely ride their bikes.
Each spring in the Netherlands, pupils in the penultimate or final year of primary school are tested for both their theoretical knowledge about traffic, safety, and behaviour as well as their practical skills when riding a bicycle in traffic as part of a national cycling test. More than 85% of Dutch primary schools participate in the national cycling test. Data are collected via a score application and are valuable for schools as they can immediately get insights into what the pupils can still be taught with regards to traffic education.
In Flanders, pupils can attain gradual bicycle diplomas starting with a diploma for balance bicycles for kids in kindergartens, via bronze and silver, to finally the golden bicycle diploma, which is awarded to pupils in the final year of elementary school that pass the ‘Grand Cycling Test’. A similar graduated diploma scheme is available for pedestrians. Cycling and pedestrian tests and certificates also exist in Belgium’s Walloon region, albeit not as part of a graduated scheme.
Cycling tests are also done in Austria, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Germany amongst others. In Norway, four organisations have collaborated to set up a website providing teachers with all the essential content on practical training as well as theoretical and practical tests.
More Information
Austria: Österreichisches Jugendrotkreuz, Freiwilligen Radfahrprüfung.
BE-Flanders: Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde (VSV), Het Grote Fietsexamen.
BE-Wallonia: Wallonie mobilité, Education Mobilité et Sécurité routière (EMSR).
Czech Republic: BESIP, Dopravní soutěž mladých cyklistů (10 – 16 years).
Denmark: Sikker Trafik, Cyklistprøven (5. – 6. klasse).
Germany: Deutsche Verkehrswacht, Radfahrerziehung in der Schule gewährleisten und weiter verbessern.
The Netherlands: VVN, Het Nationaal VVN Verkeersexamen.
Norway: Trygg Trafikk, NAF, NCF, and SLF (n.d.), Sykkeldyktig.
LEARN! Manual Example 5: Objectives and Output Objectives from the Pedestrian and Cyclist Tests in Flanders
LEARN! Flash 3 Example: Involving Danish Parents in the Cycling Test