Parents in Bucharest express heightened worry over traffic jams and road safety, according to research findings
Bucharest, Romania: Parental Concerns Focus on Traffic Congestion, Air Quality, and Street Safety
Parents living in Bucharest have identified three primary concerns about urban life, according to a study presented on May 27, 2025. Traffic congestion, air quality, and street safety were the main issues raised by respondents, accounting for 37%, 31%, and 15% of concerns, respectively.
The study, titled "Bucharest, City of Parents," was conducted by residential and mixed-use developer HILS Development and Reveal Marketing Research. The survey aimed to explore the everyday life necessities of parents in Bucharest, focusing on aspects influential to families with children up to 18 years old.
Aside from the primary concerns, other issues mentioned by parents included insufficient parks and green spaces, inadequate parent-friendly public transportation, a lack of non-formal education clubs, few day-care centers and kindergartens, inadequate playgrounds, and more.
"Parents residing in Bucharest are growing increasingly concerned about housing needs and city obstacles like congestion, neighborhood safety, or air quality," stated Marius Luican, General Manager of Reveal Marketing Research. "The survey indicates a clear trend towards seeking homes boasting increased comfort and facilities that promote balanced family life."
Interestingly, parents who do not frequently drive prioritize issues differently, with air quality taking the top spot. Both young and older parents, over the age of 55, tend to rate street safety as a concern.
Almost 87% of parents believe that Bucharest is a family-friendly city. Although a sizeable portion of young parents (18-24 years old) and those who express low satisfaction levels reside in the city, the most satisfied group consists of parents aged 35-44. A majority of parents over 55 consider Bucharest to be moderately family-friendly.
Nearly half of the older parents feel that Bucharest is not conducive to their health, while 7 out of 10 are pleased with access to health services nearby.
Parents with multiple children (3 or more) exhibit high levels of satisfaction concerning accommodating family needs in public spaces, access to playgrounds, and city health benefits. At the same time, they are most dissatisfied with accessing education centers using bicycles or cargo bikes, insufficient parks, and appropriate playgrounds for their children to play safely at home or in the neighborhood.
The age group of children where parents experience the lowest levels of satisfaction is between 11 and 15. They express dissatisfaction regarding nearby parks and green spaces, non-formal education clubs, air quality, age-appropriate playgrounds, and the opportunity to play sports with their children in organized settings.
Overall, approximately 83% of parents list moving house as a planned action following the birth of their children. The majority of those aiming to buy a new home desire additional space (58%), followed by an area offering facilities suitable for families with children (15%) and those who feel that Bucharest lacks the necessary infrastructure to raise a child in a harmonious environment (10%). Of those intending to relocate to accommodate a family, 38% plan to sell their current home and 41% are willing to buy a new home and rent their old dwelling.
Around 46% of parents aged 55 and above are not interested in moving, as they are content with their current living area. When selecting a home, the number of bedrooms is the top criterion, attracting 8 out of 10 parents planning to move. Aside from the bedroom count, price, a building's structural integrity, and the size of the living space are significant factors for three-quarters of buyers.
The study was conducted in February 2025 using a sample of 1007 interviews, representative of the target demographic, and the CAWI methodology. The target group consisted of men and women, parents aged 18 years and over, residing in Bucharest or Ilfov and planning to purchase in the next 2 years a duplex/ triplex or apartment/ studio flat in Bucharest or Ilfov.
- The study on family life in Bucharest, Romania, highlighted that aside from traffic congestion, air quality, and street safety, parents also expressed concerns about other aspects of urban living, such as the lack of green spaces, insufficient parent-friendly public transportation, a scarcity of non-formal education clubs, limited day-care centers and kindergartens, inadequate playgrounds, and more.
- The research revealed that parents who do not frequently drive prioritize air quality as their main concern, while both young and older parents tend to prioritize street safety.
- The study found that parents with multiple children exhibited high levels of satisfaction with accommodating family needs in public spaces, access to playgrounds, and city health benefits, although they were dissatisfied with accessing education centers using non-car modes, insufficient parks, and appropriate playgrounds for their children.
