Do you ride bikes with your kids on the regular street?

[bab]

I'm really afraid to do this.  If you don't ride on the main roads, where do you go?

[joenali]

I don't blame you. I think it's totally fine for kids to ride bikes on sidewalks if you have them. I take SS to a local bike trail or even I the local elementary school playground. We live on a fairly busy street, so no street riding.

[Deleted]

With them on bikes or with them in a chariot behind your bike?

I ride with my DS in a chariot behind my bike. I do ride on main roads, but not busy ones. And I only do that to get to our biking/walking trail.

If he was on a bike of his own, going on main roads would depend on how steady he was on the bike and how good he was about staying on the side.

[bab]

Jul 23, 2013 16:24:00 GMT -5 @schmancy said:

With them on bikes or with them in a chariot behind your bike?

I ride with my DS in a chariot behind my bike. I do ride on main roads, but not busy ones. And I only do that to get to our biking/walking trail.

If he was on a bike of his own, going on main roads would depend on how steady he was on the bike and how good he was about staying on the side.

They are 8 so too big for the chariot.  I just don't trust the drivers at all.  People are so distracted.  I hate the idea of having to load bikes up on the van for a local bike ride though.  UGH there are no answers LOL

[bella427]

We taught DD to ride her bike in an empty parking lot near our house. Now that she's a confident rider we occasionally go on our neighborhood streets, but not the busy ones. Wish we had sidewalks in our hood.

[polka]

Along the beach, bike paths around the park or the neighborhood.

eta: oops, I didn't answer your first question.  No, we don't take them out on the regular streets.  We ride/walk along paths or sidewalks.

[bab]

Jul 23, 2013 16:28:19 GMT -5 toledo said:

As I read this, H is heading out the back gate with M to try out the new ride-behind bike he just got for her. They're going on back residential streets, but I'm a little nervewracked.

Is it a tandem thing that attaches to his bike?

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2013 16:26:03 GMT -5 bab said:

Jul 23, 2013 16:24:00 GMT -5 @schmancy said:

With them on bikes or with them in a chariot behind your bike?

I ride with my DS in a chariot behind my bike. I do ride on main roads, but not busy ones. And I only do that to get to our biking/walking trail.

If he was on a bike of his own, going on main roads would depend on how steady he was on the bike and how good he was about staying on the side.

They are 8 so too big for the chariot.  I just don't trust the drivers at all.  People are so distracted.  I hate the idea of having to load bikes up on the van for a local bike ride though.  UGH there are no answers LOL

I'm with you on this.

[ijack]

We generally do the sidewalk, but DD (5) has started wanting to ride in the bike lane, which freaks me out. We'll do it on neighborhood street, but I prefer the sidewalk.

[joenali]

Jul 23, 2013 16:28:19 GMT -5 toledo said:

As I read this, H is heading out the back gate with M to try out the new ride-behind bike he just got for her. They're going on back residential streets, but I'm a little nervewracked.

I get a little scared when I see parents on bikes with the kid in the trailer on busy streets. The trailer would be the first to get hit, plus they can be difficult to see when you are in a car. They are perfect for bike trail riding though.

[joenali]

Jul 23, 2013 16:30:31 GMT -5 ijack said:

We generally do the sidewalk, but DD (5) has started wanting to ride in the bike lane, which freaks me out. We'll do it on neighborhood street, but I prefer the sidewalk.

I don't blame you either. Sidewalks for kids!! If a kid is in a bike lane they need to still be aware of everything going on around them, including car doors opening up. Sometimes that is hard for adults to navigate.

[joenali]

Jul 23, 2013 16:30:46 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

I ride on local bike trails. I very rarely will ride on streets, if I can avoid it. I don't blame you. People are way too distracted on the road and I never take it for granted that they see little old me on my bike. Ugh.

Oh, and I don't take my kids, I leave them in the car with the windows up.

That's really where kids should be. Along with the family dog.

[ijack]

Jul 23, 2013 16:32:18 GMT -5 joenali said:

Jul 23, 2013 16:30:31 GMT -5 ijack said:

We generally do the sidewalk, but DD (5) has started wanting to ride in the bike lane, which freaks me out. We'll do it on neighborhood street, but I prefer the sidewalk.

I don't blame you either. Sidewalks for kids!! If a kid is in a bike lane they need to still be aware of everything going on around them, including car doors opening up. Sometimes that is hard for adults to navigate.

That's the main reason I still haven't biked to work, I'm terrified of getting hit by a door.

[joenali]

Jul 23, 2013 16:35:33 GMT -5 ijack said:

Jul 23, 2013 16:32:18 GMT -5 joenali said:

I don't blame you either. Sidewalks for kids!! If a kid is in a bike lane they need to still be aware of everything going on around them, including car doors opening up. Sometimes that is hard for adults to navigate.

That's the main reason I still haven't biked to work, I'm terrified of getting hit by a door.

My worst fear!!!

[Moe]

Jul 23, 2013 16:32:18 GMT -5 joenali said:

Jul 23, 2013 16:30:31 GMT -5 ijack said:

We generally do the sidewalk, but DD (5) has started wanting to ride in the bike lane, which freaks me out. We'll do it on neighborhood street, but I prefer the sidewalk.

I don't blame you either. Sidewalks for kids!! If a kid is in a bike lane they need to still be aware of everything going on around them, including car doors opening up. Sometimes that is hard for adults to navigate.

I was just in an accident where I went flying off my bike because someone opened their car door while I was on the bike lane.

My bike was a loss.

I still have bruises and road rash.

Yeah. 

That being said, I just went back on a new bike on the bike lane this past weekend.  I admit, the cars that were driving didn't faze me, but I was looking inadvertently at each parked car and potential doors opening. 

[bab]

NO Moe!!!!

I'm glad you are OK

[sonrisa]

There's a waterfront bike/walking path two blocks from our house so we will. She already walks with us there so biking won't be an issue. No sidewalks but the neighborhood is very sleepy.

[Moe]

Oh I'm fine.  With PT, but it includes massage, so ... sweet. And no fault state means my car insurance has covered everything.

I'm more irritated at the fact that her (the driver) insurance is taking their sweet ass time to evaluate the case. Right.

Meanwhile, I had to just suck it up and buy the damn bike already, and I know that they're going to stiff me on a lot of the accoutrements (like a side basket that was bent. You laugh, (so do I) but damn it, it got totally bent so, what am I supposed to do)

Also. HELMET. ALWAYS USE A HELMET.

But don't let it discourage you, I've been biking in heavily driven streets for 13 years and this is the first accident on the road. I actually had 2 bumps from cars leaving alleys while I drove on the sidewalk. I think (at least in the city) that's more dangerous, oddly enough.


ETA: Fun fact, Sofia once road in the side basket, when she was a wee little puppy.  She hated it.  LOL

[Deleted]

My oldest just started riding on the street at 7.5, my younger one still rides on the sidewalk. I make DD1 ride in front of me so I can make sure she stays close to the side, and so that I'd be hit by a car, not her.