Start with Children – Bratislava Summit 2025

Urban mobility for the next generation

EIT Urban Mobility is proud to support the second edition of Start with Children – the Bratislava Summit 2025.

Start with Children is a summit held in Bratislava, Slovakia, that explores how policies, innovations and urban planning can be shaped to benefit and prioritise children, and by extension, society as a whole.

This year, the conference will also focus on the following topics:

• Intergenerational housing
• Public health
• Child and youth participation
• The role of communities in children’s development
• Cities’ resilience to climate change

Our involvement

This is EIT Urban Mobility’s second time taking part in the event. Last year, we organised a workshop titled “Beyond Playgrounds: Children Shaping the Future of Mobility”, which focused on strategies for involving children and young people in mobility projects and initiatives. As part of this workshop, a “walkshop” was held, providing participants with a unique opportunity to engage with local residents on the streets and observe the city first-hand. This allowed them to gain valuable insights into the everyday challenges faced by children and families in urban environments.

Insights from last year

In 2024, the summit gathered 600 participants who engaged in lectures, discussions, workshops, and networking with urban planning experts and mayors of world capitals. The Mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo, endorsed the initiative of making the wellbeing of children a main priority in city planning. The conference also provided a platform for the children themselves, giving them the opportunity to share personal experiences and participate in interactive hands-on skills workshops.

The conference further identified key strategies for making cities more liveable for children, especially within the domain of urban mobility. One of the proposed solutions was regulating inner-city traffic to ensure safety. These measures aim to not only protect children but also create space for healthier, more sustainable modes of transportation.

Organisers

The event is organised by the City of Bratislava in collaboration with the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava.