I have a job this summer (before I go to college) and I want to commute. It's a 16 mile (one way) commute on all 4 lane, 35mph and 25 mph roads. And yet, my parents won't let me ride. They say it's too busy and someone is going to get mad and smear me on the front of their Suburban. They said that they would pay for gas, but they said that last year (I tried to my bike to work last year as well), and they still owe me over $100 in gas. *sigh*. I wish there was some way I could ride.....

It sucks being loved.

Don't worry, once you move out you'll be able to do whatever you want.

Drive to a municipal lot in town, park, ride. Done. Wash, rinse, repeat tomorrow. Well, use my advice at your own risk.

How old are you? Your parents love you, consider yourself lucky.

I went through the same thing with my parents 6 years ago. One morning, I kissed my mom, said "I'll call you when I get there", and got on the bike. If you convince your parents to let you, use your head, and don't ever let on to any close calls you may have had.

-Kevin

You're 18? So move! Make your own way.
Kwitcherbellyachin'!

I bought my kid a cool road bike, then I almost got ran over a couple of times. now I can ride in traffic but my son cannot. I suck.

oh my life is soo hard. I'm 18 and I live at home and now my mean old parents are giving me gas money!

Just messing with you HickeyDog

^ only problem is they are NOT giving me gas $$ which is why I want to ride.

Oh well...I guess it could be worse.....But the reason why I'm in a hissy fit is they can't see that the roads that I will be riding are just fine for cyclists. *sigh*

I may try that drive and ride thingy, although they might get suspicious when 1. I leave early 2. come home sweaty and 3. My bike is missing.

Sounds like a perfect excuse to get a small scooter (50-150cc). That's what my 16 y/o daughter rides when it's too far to take the bicycle.

And my parents would kill me if I got one of those.....meh. Maybe I'll just defy them and ride anyways

35mph and 25mph? no money for gas?

your parents treat you like a princess
pcad will tell you to HTFU...

I am (agh) 38 and my parents are still freaked out and incredulous that I ride a bike to work. They still would like to think I took the bus or better yet, drove every day. Some things will never change and you just have to prove you are responsible and capable.

That does it. I am defying my parents and riding my bike anyways. They can stuff it. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA

My Dad rode a bike to work so I didn't have that problem. However I have done my share of what they don't know doesn't hurt them. Your options are limited though living on their dime at present so to speak. When you cut the cord you can move into "I respect your opinion, but I know the risks and have made the decision to do it anyway". In the meantime realize they may be ignorant but the important thing is they love you.

tell'em to eat your ass!

It's good to have parents who care, but I also remember how it could feel a bit stifling at times. My parents used to worry about me bicycling everywhere when I was younger. By the time I was 13, I was regularly going for 10 or 15 mile rides...although I had to promise to stick to the quiet streets. I had to clear every route with them, and I also wore a helmet (which was not very common back in 1983). When I was in high school I raced and regularly rode on busy streets and country highways. My parents definitely worried then. Ironically, the only time I was ever hit by a car was when I was bicycling through a quiet neighborhood with very little traffic. I got hit by some idiot who decided it would be fun to take a curve in the wrong lane (which happened to be my lane) and he hit me head on going pretty fast. Amazingly enough I was not seriously injured (although my bicycle was totaled). To say that made my parents worry even more is an understatement, but by that time they realized that bicycling was something I just had to do... and they were very supportive in helping me get back on the bike as soon as possible.

Tell them you appreciate their concern, and assure them that you know how to ride safely (stay visible, be predictable, and ride defensively... but signal and take the lane when you need to). It might help if you could find someone else who bikes that same route. Maybe you could ride with them for awhile?

Sean

Show 'em this thread, and some of the plethora of other "taking the lane" threads, various state law for bicycles threads, hi-viz clothing and blinky threads...

And if that doesn't work, THEN tell 'em you're doing it anyway (just make sure you know what you're doing and don't get greased ).

When I was 50, my Dad was pressuring me to not ride my bike 9 miles to work. He even told me that a motorcycle might be safer.

I persevered, citing my cycling history of 30 years of safe commuting by bicycle. The funnier thing was that he used to bicycle commute to work. He had been inspired to start by me commuting.


Years later I learned of the basis of his change of heart. Apparently one time he was hit by a car. (He forgot to tell me at the time I guess). It was enough to provide a down-payment for a house. (Don't get any ideas. Houses were much cheaper then. )

Just my take on it. 16 miles is a long distance. I've done 17 each way. Even if you do it safely, you may find that it cuts into your social life and becomes a bit boring. You might want to humor the 'rents this summer.

You could try to explain to your parents that it is safer for you to ride to work than to risk dieing of an obesity related disease later in life.

When I was a teenager, my dad tried to forbid me to bike to school, which was only about 6 miles away. Funny thing is that most of it was on pathways, away from motor traffic.

Even to this day, and now I'm 35, he still calls me crazy for bike commuting.

He either thinks that traffic is dangerous or that cycling is a recreational activity for kids. Or both.

Don't worry about what they say too much. Just go out and do it!

where are you working?

Is that what they would do if they were driving on that road and saw a bicyclist? No? Then why assume everyone else is a sociopath?

lol, if you're getting a job, pay for your own bicycle!

That's what I did... lol...

Your parents don't "suck", they just want to keep you alive, even if they aren't using educated judgment in this matter. So why not educate them? Show them there's a viable, safe commuting world out there.
In the meantime, strike a compromise; agree to abide by their method of transportation if they pay for gas, not reimburse you. If their credit card isn't loose enough at the pump, you'll get to work your way. Fair enough?

If you were a shark, you could sing them the shark song.

Best response yet! Although your parents might spite you for being a smarta**