Not cycling related exactly.

My wife is out of town with her father who is in the hospital dealing with an infection. She's the one that normally picks up the kids from school. It's a small school with limited busing available. We're outside of the zone.

The school is about 2.25 miles from our house. My 12 year old son will frequently walk and occasionally bike to/from school. Last night, out of the blue, he volunteered to walk his sister (who is 8) home so I didn't have to leave work as early to pick her up. My daughter was excited to try it so I agreed. He'll have a cell phone so he can call if there are any problems.

Now I know part of the reason my son likes to walk is that it gives him a little alone time and makes him feel more independent. I also know that in decades gone by walking a couple of miles to school wouldn't be anything noteworthy. But I'm very happy that in this car centric era my kids are aware that you don't need a car to get everywhere. I'm also happy that my son volunteered to give up some of "his" time to help out the family.

That's awesome, tjspiel. One of our house "rules" is that we never drive if the distance is under 2 miles unless it's raining/snowing or we have to bring something too heavy to carry (like the weekly groceries).

That's a great rule !

Raisin' 'em right, dad!

One of the smartest things my parents did was flat out tell my brother and I that we are not going to drive at age 16. That we need to learn the bus systems, trains, and learn to walk/ride. Best thing ever.

I loved the train. The local bus was ok but not my thing. Walking was good but we live sorta far out of places. I rode my bike to work and school everyday. It was a lovely experiance.

Our kids would have moved out - the closest bus stop is almost two miles away, with very limited service. But they both are attracted to cycling as young adults, with the youngest not wanting to take his car to school in Seattle - he is a fluent bus/train rider these days. Hope to buy him a new bike this summer for CX, and send him to school with a beater to get to class and back from his apartment.

my parents gave us that option. What sold us on the idea of no car (like we had a choice) was how much money it was going to cost us... not my parents, to have a car.

That is so cool that he isn't afraid of the "work" that comes from walking. It seems like a lot of kids are getting more and more lazy when it comes to things physical because of the amazing luxuries we have now. I know that when my 4 year old does things to help mom out, or actually does something nice for his little brother it makes me beam to see him think of others and contribute to the family like that. Parenting does have it's good moments

Around here there was a story last year about a parent that was cited for neglect because she had her child walk to school. It seems weird that either walking could ever be considered negligence, or that the city would be designed to not be safe for pedestrians. From what i understand about where you live it is pretty bike friendly though, so I doubt something like this would happen.

you = proud dad

me = jealous dad.

good on you!

No doubt there are people who would frown on us for letting our kids walk so far. We also had our own share of concerns when our son started to do it. It's one of those things that you would never forgive yourself for if something were to happen.

There's this building that I walk through once in a while when I grab some lunch. It was built at the turn of the (last) century and it has some blown-up pictures on the walls from the early 1900s. One of the pictures that fascinates me is of a parade in 1911 or so. There are two remarkable things. The first is that everyone watching the parade is dressed up. The second is that there are tons of people sitting on narrow ledges and hanging out of windows 6 and 7 stories high. There's no way any building would allow that today. We seem so much more concerned about safety now. Are we too concerned or were they just not concerned enough?

Nice. My son (3) is all about cars but so was I at that age. I hope it's just a phase...

Good for you, sounds like you (and your wife) are good parents.

Brings to mind a something my dad told me. After a devastating war, in another lifetime, in a distant land, my father as a child walked two hours alone each way to school, starting out in the early morning darkness and coming home in the dark. Later he got a second hand bike, but the cheap tires punctured easily, and he walked the bike as much as he rode it. He still preferred the bike with a flat, because he could at least hang his book bag on it. But he said that when he could ride that bike, it felt like he was flying. This son is proud of his dad.

Good for you, TJSpiel!

Hopefully... Like father, like son!

- Slim

Nice post TJSpiel - sounds like a great family and good ambassadors for cycling!

tjspiel thumbs up to your son.

I have felt for awhile that kids are missing out on an important lesson. The exact one you son is learning, responsibility to get to and from school on time. There are many lessons to be learned in school that are not taught in the classroom.