children cycling on roads

[Willow]

At what age did you let your children cycle on main roads. DS1 has just passed cycling proficiency aged 11, DS2 aged 10 hasn't taken it yet but is probably more natural on a bike though is a bit wobbly signaling etc. Main road to tennis club 30mph (though cars go much faster)fairly good surface apart from one bit steep hill with sharp bend at end. I have just sent them off together but am now thinking that DS2 isn't really any safer just because older brother is with him. Trip to school is down same road but also countryish 60mph twisty road with not great surface DS1 doing it now he has CP, DS2 asking to. My gut feeling is it's irresponsible of me to let him cycle at 10 on these roads but then because DS1 is slightly older does it make him more capable? Of course behind all of this is the desire to let them go off and play tennis etc to have some independence and to save me fetching and carrying them - I don't want to molly coddle them but nor do I want regrets.

Scary growing old and independent children

 

[tdr1nka]

When you send DS1 & DS2 out together let the eldest ride behind as he has the most experience and can 'shepherd' the younger one.

You are giving them both a sense of responsiblity and independence which to be honest many other other parents are being wrongly scared by the media society into not doing. Well done!

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

what does DS1 and DS2 stand for... sorry if I'm being a little thick.

 

[tdr1nka]

Darling or Dearest Son, I presumed?

 

[Young Un]

im 13 and now cycle everywhere on the roads,

in my area i wouls say 10 is a bit young as cara drive really fast, but that might just be my town.

how far is it to the tennis club, do they know about signalling and things??

i like cars and so at major junctions i just act as if i were in a car

 

[4F]

My eldest daughter (10) cycles to school on her own. 1 mile trip on a straightish country road with no major junctions. My children have always cycled on the road from age 6 upwards when out as a family as I think it is important that they learn how to do it the right way from an early age. However we live in a rural area so it is not hugely busy with traffic.

 

[LLB]

At what age did you let your children cycle on main roads. DS1 has just passed cycling proficiency aged 11, DS2 aged 10 hasn't taken it yet but is probably more natural on a bike though is a bit wobbly signaling etc. Main road to tennis club 30mph (though cars go much faster)fairly good surface apart from one bit steep hill with sharp bend at end. I have just sent them off together but am now thinking that DS2 isn't really any safer just because older brother is with him. Trip to school is down same road but also countryish 60mph twisty road with not great surface DS1 doing it now he has CP, DS2 asking to. My gut feeling is it's irresponsible of me to let him cycle at 10 on these roads but then because DS1 is slightly older does it make him more capable? Of course behind all of this is the desire to let them go off and play tennis etc to have some independence and to save me fetching and carrying them - I don't want to molly coddle them but nor do I want regrets.

Scary growing old and independent children

You may find encouraging them to grow up and becoming proficient at a pastime will mean you end up spending even more time with them.

This was my eldest @ 15 and there was no give in that jump if they had got it wrong

You can't wrap them up in cotton wool forever, but I do understand the desire to try and protect them at 10.

 

[tdr1nka]

Brilliant pic LLB!

 

[LLB]

Brilliant pic LLB!

Taken on my old 2 megapixel phone (Sony Ericsson W810i) in burst mode. I made her jump it about 3 times to get that one

 

[Willow]

That hobby is more expensive than cycling but how proud. Mine spent two hours playing tennis then cycled to meet me at their school and joined in our netball because we were short, then cycled home- the 11 year old said he felt more tired than when I took him to Wembley - we got home at 1am then!

 

[Moonlight]

Well I don't have kids..but I started cycling on the road when I was 9...but I was very confident, my sister only really started when she was 13, so 11 seems good, it all depends on the DS really.

And...any cycling at all is better than computer games. Don't let your DS turn into a Nintendo DS! =D

 

[fossyant]

My son at 7 has now developed some road sense although it's limited to the estate - he bombs down the hill at over 20 mph (logged on the Aldi computer) and out rides older lads, although slows down for the end of the road, whilst the older ones don't (without a cycling dad).

Age of 10 should be fine...I was up and off at that age...

It's more about the individual - some are better than others, in any activity....

 

[Noodley]

I had my first "encounter" with a car when I was 10 - I had set off for a 40 ride with the Boys Brigade. I ended up in casualty and had to get stitches. I still have the scar. That was almost 30 years ago - it was a sheep to blame (oh, how I have used that excuse since!!!)

I have cycled to school a few times with my elder daughter and would have no problem allowing her to cycle on her own..however, Mrs Noodley is a completely irrational nutter who despite being in the Police and acknowledging it is safer to cycle than to be a passenger in a car says I should drop her off at my parents house and she walks the rest...

Then Mrs Noodley and elder daughter go out on the horse....

 

[GrahamG]

Fair play to you - I was out cycling in the local neighbourhood from about 6 or 7 with an older brother but this was still in the local neighbourhood. It was probably about 10 when I started going the 2 miles to my best mates house and we'd then go off 'mountain biking' in nearby hills 5 miles away via 60 mph duel carriageways until we learned that there were quiet routes and explored the country lanes (oh how we laughed when we found a sign post to Bell End).

I'm just pleased to hear that there's still parents out there who are happy to give their kids some independence.

 

[rog 1974]

I dont think you can state a general age, you have to judge the common sence and road sence of the child. One of mine has been riding on the roads since 10 or 11, another one I have just started letting out at nearly 13 yrs and instantly regreted it, will try with him again shortly after making him do the driving hazzard awareness test on the computer a few times.