I can understand three perspectives here. I can remember when I was a little bit chafed at some of my parent's rules and "suggestions." Now the shoe is on the other foot, and I guess I am greatly concerned about my two kids.

On another note, crap does happen. I have been an educator for 31 years now, and I have gone to too many funerals of students. Just last week three of my HS studetns were life-flighted after having a severe collision with a semi loaded with 29 tons of sand.

It is difficult for parents to cut the cord and let the bird start flying on their own. I have to laugh about this, as when I was officiating D-1 hoops, my dad was worried about me travelling and getting to and from places in blizzards and ice storms---and I was in my 40's. You see, while you have "come of age", your parents never stop being your parents.

Hang in there---they care for you and love you; trust me on thisone---it is a whole heck of a lot better than the other extreme---I have had students endure that, too.

Tim C.

Do your homework on cycling safety vs car safety,
learn about the health benifits of cycling and how it can extend your life,
read information such as:
https://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/traffic/index.htm
https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm

Present your case to your parents and convince them.

In case he misses this post. HTFU and ride.

I'm 22 and my folks, while supportive, are still very nervous about me commuting via bicycle. This is compounded by the fact that I cross over a major freeway and have to ride in some 40mph traffic (which inevitably means the motorists are doing 50+, seriously). I understand how nervous they are, but fortunately they are accepting and... I don't live with them so while they were skeptical I just did it.

I wouldn't advocate sneaking these things, and I wouldn't advocate "breaking the rules" (count yourself lucky that you have parents who do care about you - mine do but so many of my friends literally despise their parents to the core and it kind of makes me sad that they do). Rather I would advocate sitting down and seriously discussing it with them, bringing evidence of its benefits (health, money, etc) as well as proof that you've researched the safety concerns and understand the risks. Go from there.

Drive the car one mile, hide car, ride the rest of the 15 miles to work. After, ride 15 miles to car, drive one mile home and most important... keep the gas money! That's the Ohio way.

"Parents suck..." No ****? Just be thankful you are not one. Logic has no business in parental decision making (aka hyper-worrying).

Also, well thought-out persuasive arguments are useless. No one listens to logic. It's a myth.

Naturally breeders reign supreme.

Times have changed. I was a little slow to get rid of training wheels at age 7, but once I did, I was allowed to ride up and down the street. About a year later, I was allowed to ride "around the block," a distance that was open to some interpretation. It wasn't long from that point that I was given free reign of the neighborhood. My parents and grandparents bought me my first LBS bike at age 15, and the following summer I got my first job at a nearby neighborhood hardware store. Might have been 4 miles from home at most. I had to cross a semi-major road to get there, but that was just a matter of being careful. I came up with the idea to ride to the store, and my parents were proud of me for thinking of it. By the time I turned 18, they would have let me ride just about anywhere I wanted to, but by that time I rarely took advantage. Cars were more cool even though I still rode the bike.

There's nothing wrong at your age with trying to have a reasoned discussion with your parents about this matter. But becoming defensive and confrontational isn't going to help. I'm not quite old enough to be your dad, but your route sounds no more dangerous than what I rode at your age.

If it hadn't been mentioned before... just throw your bike in the back (or on top) of whatever gas-guzzler they want you to drive. Park a few miles up the road from home and ride your bike.

If this is the most rebellious you become, your parents are extremely lucky.

Edit: I saw a similar suggestion mere posts above this one. That just reinforces that it's a good idea. Go for it.

PPM. Small (I make the 5th worker) company. They are off of Merchantile Rd. I would take Brandywine (my street) north to Olde 8 to New 8 to Harvard to Green to Merchantile. Aside from Brandywine, it's all 4 lanes and slow streets. And the ironic thing is that I did virtually the same route on my first ride with my new bike...

I did pay for my own bicycle. And that was a three month project the convince them that I could use a new bike. And this is with me paying the whole way.....

And the ironic thing is that my dad rode his bike to work...10 miles each way on buisy highways (not freeways) when he was a teenager.....

That was different. That was uphill both ways, in the snow.

This is Randolf, Ohio we are talking about. In the summer, it's 90 degrees and the humidity is always right at 99%. And hills? To the people in Randolf, the hill is the little bunny bump that gets you over the freeway.

Hide your bicycle in the car and drive a mile away, park it, and complete your journey via bicycle. Keep the gas money until they have paid off the $100.00 they owe you from last year. Then have the bicycle commute talk with them. Perhaps take them in the car along your route to prove to them that the streets you will use are not full of fast cars and trucks. After that just use your bicycle.

If they refuse to let you bicycle to work then always get the gas money up front. Collect it daily in cash. Just say that because fuel prices are going up so regularly that you want to collect the money daily. Right now that might be about $8.00 per day depending on the vehicle. That way they will eventually be so annoyed with you asking for it that they might just give in and let you ride the bicycle.

Get the money the night before each ride to work. If they don't have the money then you can tell them that you will use the bicycle. You need to do this on bad weather days too. If you ask to use the car on those days then they will be able to say that since you are asking to use it then you shouldn't get gas money for work.

Good luck.

Well I can see why your parents are worried. Brandywine and Olde 8 are great, till you get up there near the 8/271 construction, where the drivers are just plain frustrated, in a hurry and impatient. It gets worse once you get to Harvard, Green and Merchantile...where you got all the rude, impatient pretty people who are in a hurry and yapping on their iPhones. I don't even like driving through there from 8 on up.

I'm not saying it isn't perfectly rideable, but there are other routes you could choose that might make your parents a little more comfortable. Google is your friend...scope out the different route choices then have your parents even go with you to check them out (after you have done so yourself) and you might just bring them around.

FYI, my first work commute was from Parma Hts to 14th & Euclid when I was just 13. Been riding to work ever since, in lots of different cities, towns and countries and I am still in one piece...if that helps.

Get off the interweb. Enjoy a great summer and dont get anyone pregnant. You should be out doing different chemicals and trying to get a body part wet. For real now stay off the net until you get to college.

Sometimes parents see something that you might not realize, like the 16 miles might be taking on too much with your job, socializing, and other time commitments, worried you'd lose weight, maybe you are accident prone, and many other things they might not have come out and said. As long as they don't come on as totally unreasonable, you can try to keep an open dialog, reminding them that you are an adult now and would like to make some of your own decisions. Congratulations on your choice to further your education. Heck, you're young and have your whole life ahead of you. You can get your exercise maybe another way. Good luck. ??Get a job closer in for the summer?

You think you have it bad? I'm 24 years old and I still get the sex talk every freaking month!

"Son, you may not have a girlfriend but it's time we talk about sex..."

I told my parents that I was going to buy a bike to commute on before the Spring semester got out and they freaked out telling me they don't want me to ride on the road, etc. They don't know about my new bike and they are ~2hr (120mi) away so they don't really have a say. It's not that I'm hiding it from them, it's just that I'm not going to openly tell them about it (if they ask I'll tell).

lol I'm 18 and I'm still not allowed to have a girlfriend.

Or rights.

It don't matter, I'm making my own money anyway.

Parents just dont understand

Ugh

Gettn jiggy wit it

They'll come around.

About 4-5 months ago I told them (22 at the moment, btw) I was looking at getting my own place (I love my current roommate, we just are going in different directions), selling the car and riding the bike. I went through about 2-3 months about how stupid it was, how I could just live at home (20-25 miles to work, compared to 2-3 from the new place) and so on. Then they went 180 and support me.

I also have considered a motorcycle in the past and got the "over my dead body" speech from my mother the RN. 8 months later I bring it up again, since the new job I have applied for requires some in city travel that may be difficult bike. This time I get the "What about the weather?".

Just give it time...

Damn you guys have some square parents. You all need to get foot loose.

Best idea yet Wanton disrespect for parents takes form in a healthy way. They will get it. I have a 20 year old son, and if he wants to ride his bike, he's welcome to. He would of course get the straight parenting talk regarding safety and the view of cyclists from a motorist's point of view.

I used to ride my bike 5 miles each way to Jr. High in the 70's. Times sure have changed.

But mine are clipped in!

+1 stash the bike in the car idea. +1 Hassleing the parents for gas. Big picture, your parents will NEVER respect you as a man if you can't make your own decisions.++