Child Bicyclist Perspectives on Danger and Injury Circumstances in the Built Environment

Abstract

Danger perception and the built environment are associated with injury risk in adult bicyclists, but limited research exists related to child bicyclists. Our pilot study describes child bicyclist perspectives on safety in the built environment. Participants were children who came to the Alberta Children’s Hospital emergency department with a bicycling injury sustained on public property. Research team members interviewed participants about their injury circumstances (n=26). This research is based on thematic analysis of their responses to the open-ended interview questions. The risks children perceived were obstructions, debris, grade, visibility, and risky behavior. Fear of perceived danger in the environment influenced participants’ bicycling experiences. The results inform child-contextual understanding of the built environment.