Riding with kids...4 & 7
 

I'm trying to promote the idea that bikes work well for running errands and getting to places, so I'm doing a lot of riding with my 4 and 7 year olds. I'm looking for advice...road or sidewalks?

I am a believer in riding on the road as my actions are predictable, and drivers can tell what I'm doing and we can all get along, but I get concerned with my 4yo because he's so small on the road. I have taken to riding side-by-side on the road, teaching him about "taking the lane" staying right, watching cars to see if drivers are there, which way to look to check for oncoming traffic etc. He's doing pretty well. Yesterday we had a new experience....the roundabout.

Since he has been doing so well, reading off the stop signs, telling me what yield means, showing me the bike lane etc., we took a longer ride to pick up his sister's tennis equipment, and that meant roundabouts. He did great, stayed with me and we had no issues with vehicular traffic.

We got home and his mom (my wife) flipped out on me. It got me thinking maybe he isn't ready for it, but I justify it to myself saying this is a better way to ride than on the sidewalk, he's learning what to look for, and he is with me. Am I wrong here?

As an aside, after we did that we rode our bikes to his t-ball game and got soaked on the way home. He told me "that wasn't very fun getting soaked." So I said to him..."don't you like playing and splashing in the rain?" He responded "Oh YEAH! That IS FUN!" Later, at dinner we always aske the best thing that happend to us during the day and he said..."Riding my bike in the rain."

So, do I stay the course, or move to the sidewalks and teach the roadways later? Thanks for your input.

My seven year old has been riding on roads since he was 3, riding to daycare, running local errands with me, and joy riding. Kids learn the road rules pretty easily, but that doesn't mean that they ride predictably, are aware of their surroundings, or understand the consequences of getting nailed by a vehicle. Even at seven, kids easily get distracted, forget to watch where they are going, and do unpredictable things that are beyond your control, like swerving to the left without looking behind, darting in and out of the "door zone", or darting into intersections without looking. In nearly four years we haven't had any close calls, but I limit all of his road riding to side roads where cars are infrequent enough that I get things under control by the time the car passes. The roads generally seem much safer and far more navigable than sidewalks. However, I wouldn't dare take a kid out on a busy street, even if there was good bike infrastructure...because, like I said, kids will do stupid things beyond your control. We avoid busy roads and/or ride slowly on the sidewalk when necessary, generally behaving more like pedestrians when we do.

It seems to be going well, so why fix it? I assume they understand that they are to ride on roads only when you are with them?

yes, when they are on their own, they only ride down the street to the park and back, and they ride on the sidewalk for that. Anything farther than that requires a parent to be with them.

Some children are much smarter than others. Observe how your boy does and make your decisions. Perhaps if the wife were along she could see what you see.

I wouldn't be too sure of that!

Sounds to me you are doing things the right way. FWIW my daughter and son were riding bikes to school with dad as a chaperone when they were 6 & 7. At age 9 & 10 they were riding alone. The following year they got reassigned :(

Aaron :)