WWYD- cycling to school question

[DarlingWithoutYou]

DS is going to secondary this September and will need to cycle there as there's no buses in that direction. It's a 20 min cycle (according to google) but he's slow so likely longer.

My worries: I have been AGONISING over this for the past year. He has barely ever rode a bike so is not confident at all. He's only turning 11 in August so youngest in his year. I paid £60 for him to have a 2 hour session with a 'bike guru' recommended in our local town fb group, which he found very helpful but cried when he came back as said he'd been so scared riding on the road. I'm also really worried he will get lost! He's so dopey and young.

My 'What Would You Do' is this- I am off work until January. So, I could drive him until then. However his dad thinks he should just start cycling in Sep and get into the habit from day one, rather than having to learn in December when the days are darker and wetter.

WWYD? Drive him until Jan? Make him cycle?

Any help appreciated, or a reminder to pull my socks up is fine too, he is my PFB

Can you not cycle with him?

What are the roads like? If they are busy during rush hour when he is going to school then don't make him cycle if he isn't confident. I have cycled for years and years but mostly on cycle tracks (just because I have been lucky enough to live in areas with them) - I can cycle on roads, and there have been times I have been on busy roads - but I wouldn't chose to. And I love to cycle.

If it's quieter roads then offer a student a summer job of cycling every day for a week with your son there and back.

It's all good and well saying 'don't make him cycle' but I don't have an alternative.

The roads are all fairly quiet but there's a roundabout to cross.

I've seen this on Hertfordshire Gov website

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/health-in-herts/keep-active/cycle-training/cycle-training-for-small-groups.aspx

Each session normally costs £25 and lasts about 1 hour 30 mins, but your instructor will confirm this.

There is currently a 4-6 week waiting time for one to one sessions.

Maybe a few one to one lessons might help?

@DarlingWithoutYou

It's all good and well saying 'don't make him cycle' but I don't have an alternative.

The roads are all fairly quiet but there's a roundabout to cross.

A 20min cycle must be 4-5km. He can walk that in an hour. A few weeks of walking an hour each way should increase his willingness to cycle. And by walking he’ll gain familiarity with the route / roads / traffic etc.

@DarlingWithoutYou

It's all good and well saying 'don't make him cycle' but I don't have an alternative.

The roads are all fairly quiet but there's a roundabout to cross.

If he isn't confident cycling, is there a reason he can't walk?

I get what you are saying but the alternative is to walk. I preferred to walk sometimes to school even though it was a good 45 minute walk.

Can you share a picture of the roundabout. Because there are roundabouts and roundabouts.....but it might be possible for him to push his bike at that point to cross safely and then ride again the other side.

Could he walk instead? Or get a taxi? I wouldn’t put a scared child on a bike unless there was absolutely no alternative.

Is going to this school your choice OP? If not, then have you looked at the Home to school transport policy? I’m slightly confused why this issue has only become apparent now

yes to a bikeability course and cycling with him at the start.
also have a back up plan for stormy and/or icy conditions.

high vis & helmet is a must as is a good bike lock. ideally the bike is also fitted with a rack for his bags.

@DarlingWithoutYou

His school aren't doing bikeability, I asked about it last year, they never do it. I emailed the council to ask about doing it privately but they said they are not running at present and that there need to be groups of 10 kids to make it work.

I'm in Herts!

What is their reason for not doing it? It's free, all they have to do is arrange it. I'd be sending a fairly strongly worded email about that. Too late for your ds now though.

And sadly not in Herts or close by, otherwise would have offered services of ds :)

It's an hours walk and I don't think he would be willing! He says he does want to cycle, he's just nervous. I couldn't afford taxis.

The roundabout is a simple one luckily and I'll tell him to walk up the road where it's safer to cross. He did have a session with a 'bike guru' who also works as a bike ability instructor. I could pay for another session with him.

I've sent my details, thanks @whiteroseredrose

@PreviewButton it's the best school for him. It isn't a 'new' issue, but obviously as it gets closer it's more worrying for us all.

I'm definitely going to look for a local teenager to pay to ride with him for a week or so in the summer hols.

It’s all about practice to build confidence. Doesn’t have to all be on the school route.

-can his dad take him cycling during the school holidays?
-could he practice a lot on his own on in the holidays? Just cycling a mile up the road and back regularly will help him build confidence - could he do little forays to the corner shop, riding his bike over to his friends house etc?
-practicing the school route lots in the school holidays when it’s quieter.

Are there particular bits that are harder for him (right turns are nerve wracking!) could you take him to a car park where he can practice cycling round, signalling, performing manoeuvres etc.

I would 100% start in September- Jan is the worst time to start as the mornings can be quite dark still at school drop off.

You’ve got lots of time before September for him to gain confidence.

I would cycle with him for the first few weeks until he gets used to the route and builds his confidence up.
Your husband I right, him learning and building confidence will be much harder on dark mornings and dark afternoons than it wil be in September when its lighter

As you drive I assume you can ride either hand powered or a tricycle? You can hire disability bikes.

I can't cycle with him.

Can you cycle at all? I don't think driving alongside him is really safe if he's that uncertain.

Again, I can't cycle with him.

That didn't answer my question.

Slightly different situation but my daughter is a wheelchair user. Secondary school is a 10min push crossing a couple of roads a d various wheelchair hazards. Virtually every morning of last summer holidays we practised the route. It was vital she built up the stamina which I suspect your son will too. Can you walk/ drive the route with him most days gradually getting him more confident & fit from now until then.

If he doesn't feel safe cycling he'll just have to walk. Plenty of secondary-aged kids walk an hour to/from school.

@DarlingWithoutYou

I can't cycle with him as I have a disability and his dad lives too far away to do that. Wish I could though.

So buddy him up with someone who you know that can go out cycling with him.

@drspouse

That didn't answer my question.

I've already said I have a disability and can't cycle with him. Not sure how your question hasn't been answered, @drspouse

I asked if you could cycle at all because if you can cycle but not with him, that's different to not being able to cycle at all.