The PACO study examines an increasingly important issue: how to encourage more teenagers to cycle to school. Conducted in several Spanish secondary schools, the research is based on a simple but potentially powerful idea: turning Physical Education classes into a space where young people learn to use bicycles not only for sport or leisure, but also as a means of everyday transportation.
The social relevance of the topic is clear. In Spain, very few adolescents cycle to school, despite the benefits this brings for health, personal autonomy, and the environment. Active commuting — walking or cycling — helps increase daily physical activity, which is especially important considering that many young people do not reach the recommended levels of exercise. In addition, reducing car use also means less pollution and more livable cities.
To address this situation, the project designed an educational intervention based on four practical and theoretical sessions: learning traffic rules, practicing on closed circuits, cycling in urban environments, and participating in group activities related to bicycles. The results show that students greatly enjoyed the experience, improved their cycling skills, and gained more knowledge about road safety.
However, the study also reveals something very interesting: learning to cycle in urban areas made many adolescents more aware of the real dangers of traffic and the challenges of the urban environment. As a result, although their knowledge and technical confidence increased, there was no clear change in how often they cycled to school.
The main contribution of the study lies precisely in this finding: it demonstrates that promoting cycling is not simply a matter of teaching people how to ride a bike. A broader approach is needed, including safe infrastructure, family support, and long-term school projects. The study concludes that changing mobility habits requires time, coordination, and cities that are prepared to allow young people to travel safely and independently.
Full-Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Granada