To let my nearly 10 year old DD's cycle home from school alone?

[sandyballs]

Had a row with DH last night as he thinks they are too young. Finally persuaded him to at least trust them the first time to make sure they come home sensibly, and we'll review it if they don't.

We're both at work today and DH told the in-laws to meet the girls at home rather than school - much easier for them as no hassle parking or waiting around etc, which they always moan about.

Just rang home to see how they got on and in laws stressed out. Girls home fine but father in law had been up and down the hill looking for them and DD said a couple of mums had seemed shocked at them on their own.

They are nearly 10, they go off to secondary sschool next year, they are very sensible kids who are desperate for a bit of responsibility and freedom. DH now blaming me for stressing out his parents.

Personally, I'd prefer them to do their cycling proficiency test first, which should be offered this year. I'd be happy with them walking, but not cycling until they've done this.

Depends on if they've done a cycling proficiency test and what the traffic is like.

It totally depends on the traffic and roads. In Belgium it is normal for children to cycle on their own to and from school.

Well this was the whole reason for having their bikes at school. They are doing a cycling proficiency course next week and the school wanted bikes in today for a check over, make sure they are road worthy etc.

The girls were told to cycle home on the pavement today as they hadn't done their proficiency course.

I think you should have waited until after next week, I don't think cyclists should use the pavement.

Do they have flouro vests, lights etc?

I think it's fine and normal.

Although they shouldn't ride on the pavements. They are either old and sensible enough to ride on the roads or they aren't.

My 10 year old does. The only busy road he has to cross has a warden on it and he has does his cycling proficiency.

If you think they are sensible I would say let them. Could you cycle the route with them first so they know exactly what they are doing.

I'm not sure about the rules in the UK (not lived there for a while) but in Belgium, children are supposed to cycle on the pavement until they are 12. It's safer! Particularly given the way people drive here.

Pfaffingabout I have lived here 9 years and have never heard that rule, if it's true, no-one here adheres to it, pavements are far too narrow.

Nobody is meant to cycle on pavemets here Pfaffing....too easy to knock someone else into the traffic....

I wouldn't allow it OP...the majority of cycling accidents are involving children...I recenty did some research for a job I was working on....

Of course there are more cycle paths in Belgium then in the UK.

So it does totally depend on where you live but if the roads are too dangerous for them to cycle on, I don't think they should be cycling on the pavements either. Better for them to walk.

Round about here, children have to have done their cycling proficiency before they are allowed.

It's impossible here because the outside of the school is cramped with school gate parkers... the surrounding narrow roads are jammed by the cars of parents who insist on driving to school, despite being a half an hour walk away...and to top it all, cars park in the bays on the pavements here so there's traffic moving all over the place.

You are not allowed to cycle on the pavement and as they are over the age of criminal responsibility which is 10 (yes this could start off a whole new thread!) they "could" (but undoubtedly wouldn't) get ticked off for it.
I would not let my children cycle unaccompanied until they had done their on road course and even then only afterwards with supervision for some time.
Children have great difficulty judging speed and distance and may find themselves in a situation that they don't know how to deal with safely. The roads are different all the time, every time they go out, it will be different.
I understand that you need to get 2 bikes to school to do this (does ANYBODY own a car big enough for that?!) but someone ought to be accompanying them.
At the very least tell them to look behind them before they do anything other than cycling in a straight line, always look behind before signalling (make sure they can signal without wobbling) and starting and stopping. Wear something light or bright if they have nothing fluorescent.
Make sure they realise that they ALWAYS have to cycle on the left even if they go back down the same road - i.e. on their way home from school. You would be horrified at the amount of children I see who do not realise this.
Draw a normal road with junctions, put in the white lines and ask them if they know where to stop (on the course, they will be made to stop at the "Give Way" lines so they can make sure it's safe to go onto a major road from a minor one) and check for yourself if they know what position they need to be in all the time.
I am a cycling instructor and do this course!

Just read the last post, make sure they give parked cars plenty of room, someone might open a door on them if they are overtaking.

CAN CHILDREN CYCLE ON PAVEMENTS?

According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the maximum fine for cycling on the pavement from the courts is £500. However it is more usually enforced by way of the Fixed Penalty Notice procedure (FPN) which carries a £30 fine if pleading guilty. However, there is a view that the FPN can only be issued to those over 16.

"The DfT view, from discussions with Home Office, is that the law applies to all but the police can show discretion to younger children cycling on the pavement for whom cycling on the road would not be a safe option."

The age of criminal responsibility is 10 so, technically, only children below this age can cycle on pavements without fear of redress.

While adults are not allowed to cycle on 'footways' (see definition above), children up to the age of 16 cannot be prosecuted for doing so, see text above for clarification

I would rather teach my child to be courteous at all time and stop to let pedestrians past, or walk and push the bike, and then ride on the pavement, than a small child be riding on a busy road.

At 9 years old I spent almost every daylight moment that I was out of school on my bike and didnt have a parent with me, but I was not allowed on the road. Which I think was fair enough.

I'm sure I read about children cycling on pavements in Belgium, but of course, now I can't find anything about it. Grrr. Will keep looking. Frankly, I'd rather they were on the pavements, cycling with all due respect to pedestrians, than on the road risking the total lack of respect displayed by some drivers.

[mutters, I know I read it somewhere ...]

Crash helmets and flourescent jackets are a "MUST" . . !

Idon'tthinkso...do you happen to have any idea how we could get access cycling proficiency for our children, other than through school, who seem to leave it rather late? We take our children cycling on the road with us (quiet roads only) but I would feel happier if they had had some training from someone other than us (who they might actually listen too!) I have looked on the bikeability website trying to find tutors but haven't had much luck.

Sandyballs, our primary school does not allow children to ride to school unaccompanied - couldn't one of you ride up with them? Are they used to riding on the roads or was this a first?

oh and I also meant to say - in our area we have quite a few shared pavements/cycle routes, where presumably it is quite legal to ride on the pavement. I must say I am unconvinced by it, as it seems to me an excuse for not bothering to provide adequate cycle paths - not much use if you are having to keep stopping/going ultra slowly to avoid pedestrians...

It sounds within reason to me, OP, but depends what your local traffic conditions are like, of course, and how good is their road sense.

I know someone who used to let her sons age 9 & 10 cycle to and from school together (but without an adult), on the roads, including a section that can be busy. Though not every day like that. She had cycled with them for many months before that so they knew the traffic patterns, how to give way, what to watch out for, where to wait at the lights, all that stuff, very well before they ever went on their own. They never had an accident (that I heard about, anyway).

My dds cycled alone when dd1 was in year 6 and dd2 in year 3. They knew the roads very well and at the only really busy bit they got off and used a zebra crossing which avoided the need to turn right on to a busier road.
I think it's a really good idea to teach your children to take care of themselves when they are of an age to do so. I think your pil are at fault here. Why on earth did they need to stress so much? Presumably your dds were back in good time? Your inlaws reaction only reduces your children's self confidence. Personally I would tell both dh and pil to back off and as for other mums at school! How about they do what they like with their dcs and mind their own business with everyone elses.

Nearly 10 means they are 9. They haven't done their cycling proficiency test, they should not be cycling on the pavement - what if one swerves and injures somebody elderly. What if one of the girls hits a pothole and comes off - is the other girl responsible enough to get help - block the road, etc.

YABU and completely and utterly irresponsible.