children cycling on roads
- Thread starter Willow
- Start date
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summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
zimzum42 said:
Depends on the situation... youngest child I ride behind always, but the oldest one I sometimes make follow me when I am trying to show her better road positioning. She is fine on the basics I'm trying to refine the sloppy bits. Plus if she goings in front she sets the pace much slower than me
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
It depends entirely on the child and their maturity or attitude to cycling. I am perfectly happy to let Cubester, age 11, cycle off on his own to meet his mates etc. I am also happy from watching him out on club runs that he is competent and confident, and responsible enough to lead a little group of his mates on some quiet roads and along paths etc. Cubette, his twin, is nowhere near as confident, due to a couple of unfortunate events. She doesn't want to cycle on roads on her own, and has to be very gently coaxed to come out with me at all.
I would implore the OP to take them both out and watch what they do. Does checking behind and signalling come as second nature? Do they plan ahead if they have to pass parked cars? If you spend hours drumming it into them are they the sort of lads who will think "Dad's not watching, we can revert to type?" Only you can answer that one honestly by the way!
Whatever you decide, don't become so paranoid as to end up being risk averse and passing that onto them. You owe it to them to make sure they are confident and competent for your own peace of mind, but most of all to give them the responsibility to do it for themselves.
I would implore the OP to take them both out and watch what they do. Does checking behind and signalling come as second nature? Do they plan ahead if they have to pass parked cars? If you spend hours drumming it into them are they the sort of lads who will think "Dad's not watching, we can revert to type?" Only you can answer that one honestly by the way!
Whatever you decide, don't become so paranoid as to end up being risk averse and passing that onto them. You owe it to them to make sure they are confident and competent for your own peace of mind, but most of all to give them the responsibility to do it for themselves.
LLB said: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.
Lovely pic... makes me reminisce! I used to ride, quite a lot, but somehow ended giving it up after I rode in Germany and decided I preferred their laid-back attitude to riding. -sigh-
Hope she's kept it up.
Randochap
Senior hunter
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
It is sad that we have allowed our beautiful country roads to be taken over by speeding motor traffic (both in Canada and UK) Excepting the old "wagon roads," it has almost always been the case that roads in Canada/NA were engineered with automobiles in mind.
I feel lucky that when I was growing up in post-WWII UK, there was little traffic on the country lanes of Shropshire.
I was commuting to school by age 8 and thought nothing of riding 50 miles out into the S. Shropshire hills and back at 12 y/o. Apparently neither did my parents. I've asked recently: "Didn't you wonder where I was all day?"
Didn't you worry?"
It never crossed their mind. They only got irritated when I lost my way and they got a call from the Shropshire constabulary, asking for someone rescue me (and some poor sod I'd dragged along). This of course, wasn't a simple matter, because there was only a car or two amongst my whole extended family. Generally, though, life was a bit more simple.
I feel lucky that when I was growing up in post-WWII UK, there was little traffic on the country lanes of Shropshire.
I was commuting to school by age 8 and thought nothing of riding 50 miles out into the S. Shropshire hills and back at 12 y/o. Apparently neither did my parents. I've asked recently: "Didn't you wonder where I was all day?"
Didn't you worry?"
It never crossed their mind. They only got irritated when I lost my way and they got a call from the Shropshire constabulary, asking for someone rescue me (and some poor sod I'd dragged along). This of course, wasn't a simple matter, because there was only a car or two amongst my whole extended family. Generally, though, life was a bit more simple.
It is hard to provide a specific answer to this question as my kids were that age about 12 years ago and we lived in a variety of houses at the time. Some had good cycling, some less so. It was a developing freedom from about the age of 5-6. At that age, they could cycle on our road to the park at the end and back again - about 100 yds. As time went on, till they were about 12/13 or so, they were allowed greater range and flexibility. We were then living in Canada and I recall they had pretty much wide ranging freedom of the local area, but cycled on cycle paths not main roads. I cannot really remember when they were allowed unfettered access to roam as they wanted.
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
There is no reason why they shouldn't learn to ride to school, Rosewell Primary School in Midlothian 73% of pupils either cycle or walk to school. It is perfectly possible for groups of children, supervised by competent adults, to cycle along the roads to get to school (see Cyclecraft pages 236-9 for advice), it really comes down to the parents to do something about it...
colessurfer
New Member
- Location
- sutton maddock, near shifnal
I know what you mean
My children boy 12 and girl 17 cycle to the school bus (just under amile), I was reluctant to let them cycle as its a busy main road. They have both had cycle training ,as well as this I bought them reflective tops from pound shop, I guess it will make them more visible, I know its hard and I worry all the time, we can only do all we can to make them be seen and be safe.
cheers
dave
My children boy 12 and girl 17 cycle to the school bus (just under amile), I was reluctant to let them cycle as its a busy main road. They have both had cycle training ,as well as this I bought them reflective tops from pound shop, I guess it will make them more visible, I know its hard and I worry all the time, we can only do all we can to make them be seen and be safe.
cheers
dave
I don't have children, and must admit this is a hard question. I used to cycle around the country roads where I lived from the age of 9 or 10 (when I did my Cycling Proficiency). We used to go around in a group of at least 6 and went everywhere. we even went along the M20 on a weekend (admitedly it was still being built and not open to traffic at that time!) bet no-one else has cycled along motorway!!
Anyway I'm going off track, I've been out with my 10yr old niece a couple of times and she has done her CP but still doesn't seem to have much road sense - mainly not being aware of what is behind her, but maybe she thought it not necessary because I was following her & therefore giving her a false sense of security. Like anything practice, practice, practice.
Anyway I'm going off track, I've been out with my 10yr old niece a couple of times and she has done her CP but still doesn't seem to have much road sense - mainly not being aware of what is behind her, but maybe she thought it not necessary because I was following her & therefore giving her a false sense of security. Like anything practice, practice, practice.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
It really depends on the individual child and their road sense and the type of roads.
My middle child (done her Bikeability) hasn't got road sense, its coming but slower than her friends. She is now 12 and I wouldn't let her cross anything other than a minor side road on her own (well that's not quite true - she has to cross a main road but at traffic lights - and first 2 times she didn't cross at the traffic lights she has that little sense!!!).
My youngest - aged 8 is allowed to cycle on 2 local roads, and I must admit I don't know where he is on those or an area of grass/tree (that is fenced off and he shouldn't be on). I slightly worry when he is out but think its good for him too.
Other children have too little respect for cars ... I saw one yesterday who just thought the cars would stop for her as she crossed the road. A minute after that, 2 cars went past street racing and almost had an accident crashing into each other. If I lived in that part of town I would be very worried about allowing my kids out on their own, although equally its in that sort of area in which kids usually roam the streets out late from quite a young age.
My middle child (done her Bikeability) hasn't got road sense, its coming but slower than her friends. She is now 12 and I wouldn't let her cross anything other than a minor side road on her own (well that's not quite true - she has to cross a main road but at traffic lights - and first 2 times she didn't cross at the traffic lights she has that little sense!!!).
My youngest - aged 8 is allowed to cycle on 2 local roads, and I must admit I don't know where he is on those or an area of grass/tree (that is fenced off and he shouldn't be on). I slightly worry when he is out but think its good for him too.
Other children have too little respect for cars ... I saw one yesterday who just thought the cars would stop for her as she crossed the road. A minute after that, 2 cars went past street racing and almost had an accident crashing into each other. If I lived in that part of town I would be very worried about allowing my kids out on their own, although equally its in that sort of area in which kids usually roam the streets out late from quite a young age.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
That's what I mean about making an honest assessment of whether they can be trusted to put it all into practice when you aren't there to supervise. We'll never be able to prevent the unpredicted event, but we owe it to them to get them into the saddle with a reasonable level of independence.Flyingfox said:
Cyclecraft and received wisdom suggests cycling behind them at all times, but there are occasions when I will lead and give them the responsibility of doing all the checks. How else will they learn not to depend entirely on my shepherding?