Kids and Bikes

H

hydrosmurf

Member
So the wife and I had a "discussion" today about how we want our daughter to ride her bike around the neighborhood. We were debating the pros and cons of her riding on the sidewalk vs the street. She is 5 and she can ride her 16" bike fast! Our neighborhood is the type that was built in the 1960's with nothing but winding roads.

What are your family rules for the kids riding their bikes with and without the parents?
 
for our son:

at 5yo: driveway ("to the pole" or other marker)/yard while not riding with someone. my wife would not leave my kid outside unattended until 10.

-street when on some quiet side street riding w/me. they lead. you talk them through it.
-don't go anywhere busy. except may be an early morning boardwalk ride.

are they ready to take a sidewalk to a friend's house? tough call. my kid wouldn't make it past the first bug.
 
Our son knows to stay on the sidewalk, even in our neighborhood. .. too many people drive too fast. For the areas where the sidewalk is really bad he either gets off or rides on the edge of the grass to get around the crappy/lifted sections.

He also never rides without my wife or me.... but he's only 4.
 
Are you talking about her riding on her own? At 5 they get distracted by everything so riding on the street is tricky. My 5 year old son rides with me and I have to constantly yell, "Stop! There's a car coming! Get over to the side!" He doesn't ride that fast yet but hopefully I can reenforce the behavior so when he gets older he'll always be on the lookout for cars.
 
This is good stuff guys, thank you. Keep the comments coming please.

I'm talking about her riding with me on my bike right behind her. After a couple of months of us riding together like this, I am starting to trust her enough to let her get 50' or so ahead of me. She knows to stop at stop signs, and to stay on the right side of the road going both ways.

I don't trust her enough to go ride in her own - I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

I was just curious what people did on family rides around the neighborhood.
 
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