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What's stopping Pärnu from cycling more? Two workshops, two lenses: a survey and draw-a-bicycle exercise with schoolchildren; a policy discussion with city council.
Goal to understand: bicycle access, riding frequency, motivations, barriers, confidence, and support — paired with a second, more playful and collaborative method: asking students to draw a bicycle from memory, to surface habits and confidence visually. The playful, imperfect results were amusing and helped lighten the workshop atmosphere while showing varying levels of practical bicycle knowledge.
High bike access: ~90% of students own or can borrow a bike.
Frequent cyclists: ~18% ride daily; ~41% ride 2–5 times/week.
Short commutes: ~86% of trips to school are under 20 minutes.
Main barriers: weather (37%), poor road surfaces/cobbles (33%), fear of breakdowns (34%).
Safety concerns: traffic/cars (59%) and falling/injury (41%) are major worries.
Top motivators: better-maintained roads (69%), riding with friends (62%), safer bike lanes (55%).
Confidence: majority feel confident cycling in the city (62% scored 4–5/5).
Social influence: peers and friends strongly affect; adult support for cycling is very high (89%).
E-bikes: not a strong demand among students compared with adults/council feedback.
Cyclist types: sporty riders, families, casual urban cyclists, tourists, everyday residents.
Infrastructure needs: continuous protected lanes, smoother surfaces (no cobbles), lower curbs, wider safety islands.
Network: better neighborhood–centre connections and clearer wayfinding.
E-bikes: more charging points and subsidies.
End-of-trip: secure, covered bike parking at homes, workplaces and public spots.
Practical barriers: basement bike access, few short-term rentals, weak bike+transit integration.
Policy levers: reduce municipal parking and raise parking fees to discourage cars.
Employer incentives: showers, storage, flexible hours, and group-commuting rewards.
Culture & enforcement: campaigns to improve traffic culture and stricter licensing.
Bold options: large covered bike hubs, end car compensation, and targeted street maintenance (e.g., Karja tn).
High bike ownership, short trips — but lacking stronger social support. Pair quick wins (covered and flexible parking, social programs) with targeted infrastructure to boost cycling and e-mobility, cut car use, and improve liveability.
