So I've been sticking mostly to my New Year's resolution of using the bike whenever possible for errands that are less than 5 miles away. (Though so far I give me a pass when heavy rain or 40 lb bags of cat litter are involved - baby steps, people, baby steps)
And I am now doing my best to lure my kids along with me - this weekend my #2 kid (8 yo son) went with me on 2 separate occasions - library, grocery store, post office, dry cleaners. He's done great - learning a lot about handling himself on & near streets, dealing with hills, etc. And he really loves it.
So far my #1 kid (10 yo daughter) has declined to accompany us - but now she is noticing that little bro got lunch at the bagel shop on Saturday, and soft serve on the way home from the store today. I think if I manage to arrange a swing by the bookstore on the next outing I might just have her hooked!
OK, so maybe "indoctrinating" = "bribing" -- but we're having fun! :D
wahoonc
05-26-08, 07:48 PM
So I've been sticking mostly to my New Year's resolution of using the bike whenever possible for errands that are less than 5 miles away. (Though so far I give me a pass when heavy rain or 40 lb bags of cat litter are involved - baby steps, people, baby steps)
And I am now doing my best to lure my kids along with me - this weekend my #2 kid (8 yo son) went with me on 2 separate occasions - library, grocery store, post office, dry cleaners. He's done great - learning a lot about handling himself on & near streets, dealing with hills, etc. And he really loves it.
So far my #1 kid (10 yo daughter) has declined to accompany us - but now she is noticing that little bro got lunch at the bagel shop on Saturday, and soft serve on the way home from the store today. I think if I manage to arrange a swing by the bookstore on the next outing I might just have her hooked!
OK, so maybe "indoctrinating" = "bribing" -- but we're having fun! :D
What ever works!:thumb: Ours started in the trailer throwing peanuts and raisins at the roadies that tried to draft:roflmao2: They also were pretty good at handing out spare water bottles. Then they graduated to Sunday afternoon rides to the corner Dairy Queen for ice cream, the big day came when my DD asked for a basket or rack on her bike so she could "help" haul groceries. IIRC that was around age 6 or 7.
Aaron:)
politicalgeek
05-26-08, 08:27 PM
Love the roadies comment Aaron. Looking back I have to thank my parents for not being over hyped safety Nazis. Young as I am, I am glad I missed the age of parenting that pretty much bubble wrapped the kids and tried to keep them safe. I was never taught to ride the sidewalks and when I was 14 or so and had the 3 jobs, I would bike to 2 of them. They were both in the neighborhood and less than a mile or two from the house.
Sirrus Rider
05-26-08, 09:25 PM
So I've been sticking mostly to my New Year's resolution of using the bike whenever possible for errands that are less than 5 miles away. (Though so far I give me a pass when heavy rain or 40 lb bags of cat litter are involved - baby steps, people, baby steps)
And I am now doing my best to lure my kids along with me - this weekend my #2 kid (8 yo son) went with me on 2 separate occasions - library, grocery store, post office, dry cleaners. He's done great - learning a lot about handling himself on & near streets, dealing with hills, etc. And he really loves it.
So far my #1 kid (10 yo daughter) has declined to accompany us - but now she is noticing that little bro got lunch at the bagel shop on Saturday, and soft serve on the way home from the store today. I think if I manage to arrange a swing by the bookstore on the next outing I might just have her hooked!
OK, so maybe "indoctrinating" = "bribing" -- but we're having fun! :D
The up and coming generation is going to inherit a very different world than what we are accustomed to and it's best to start the culture change now. When I was growing up when one got their Drivers license it was goodbye to Bike commuting and hello to cars. There was a distinct stigma if ones peers heard that you went anywhere on a bike. Well, it looks like we're on the brink of returning to more human powered transport..