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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be nervous about allowing my 7yo to bike to school.

62 replies

MMQC · 05/05/2011 10:47

My son is 7 next week and is getting a new bike for his birthday. He's very excited and wants to use it to bike to school.

We're about a mile from school, with all bar about 100 yards or so on paths across the countryside. He is unlikely to meet another soul until he gets to the road.

He currently goes to school on the bus, so there's no extra convenience to allowing him to go by bike. It would only be sometimes anyway, in good weather, etc.

I can't ride a bike, so couldn't go with him. My husband is happy to go with him the first couple of times to make sure he's OK.

Would you let him go? I feel very nervous about the whole prospect, but don't know if I'm being sensibly cautious or wrapping him in cotton wool.

OP posts:
SarkyLady · 05/05/2011 11:49

I'm more laid back than most parents I know and I would not let Ds do this until about age 9.

You should learn to ride a bike too!

valiumredhead · 05/05/2011 11:59

JemimaMop - we have middle school here so everything happened at 9 (yr 5) instead of normal secondary school. Ds walks to school and he has to have his mobile - I was VERY pleased one day as he fell one day and couldn't get up - he'd hurt his hip, I had to go and pick him up in the car.

grippingon · 05/05/2011 12:53

Never in a million years would I allow a just 7 year old of mine to cycle a mile to school alone.

LittleJennyRobyn · 05/05/2011 13:24

No I wouldn't allow it given the distance and Ds's age.

My DD is 8, school is 5 minutes up the road, No major roads to cross. But i am still not comfortable with her going alone. As apparently there have been a few attempted child abductions from local schools in the area, its just not worth the risk. I would never forgive myself if anything happened.

Also Like others have said if he were to come off his bike and is unlikely to see another soul, What would he do? He could be there for an age before anyone found him.

I dont wrap DD up in cotton wool but i think in this situ the dangers are too great for me personally.

yoshiLunk · 05/05/2011 13:28

How lovely that he wants to do this, but no, I really think 7 is too young.

Go, on, learn to ride a bike, go on - wouldn't it be great to do this with him? Smile

cuteboots · 05/05/2011 13:28

id have to say this would be a no for me especially after seeing my son on his bike over the weekend. All he did was fall off luckily on the grass but so obviously needs alot more trg

TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 05/05/2011 13:32

far too young. 10 is more like it and even that is a bit too young.

GooseyLoosey · 05/05/2011 13:39

Too young. Agree that you could learn too and then cycle with him.

expatinscotland · 05/05/2011 13:44

No.

I'd learn to bike myself and go with him.

It doesn't matter anymore what would have been acceptable a generation ago, we don't live in that era anymore.

Dropdeadfred · 05/05/2011 13:44

i wouldnt let him - too young imo

Highlander · 05/05/2011 13:46

Our school doesn't approve of unaccompanied children until they get to Year 5. That's age 9?

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 05/05/2011 13:51

No I wouldn't and tbh, I think the cross country thing is not a positive point, less passers by to help if he falls of his bike.
I would start it now with Dad going to and from with him but wait for a couple of years befre allowing him to go it alone.

squeakytoy · 05/05/2011 13:51

But he's too young for a mobile

If he is old enough to be out on his own, he is old enough to have a mobile phone so you can contact him.

I wouldnt let a 7yr old go on their own, I would however allow him to go if he was with a friend.

Northumberlandlass · 05/05/2011 14:03

Not to young to ride his bike to school accompanied.
Too young to ride to school alone or for that matter walk to school alone.

Of course that is just my opinion.

DS is 7.5 now and he rides, we walk or take our bikes too.

cumbria81 · 05/05/2011 14:05

I don't think 7 is too young at all, I think it's fine.

But like someone else said, my concern would be what happened if his chain came off for example and he wasn't able to fix it?

Original poster
MMQC · 05/05/2011 15:48

Thanks for your opinions. My inclination is that he's too young too. The last bit of the road is a few yards on a country road without pavements, which he'd have to cross, then the rest on the pavement.

I'm not sure how practical learning to ride would be. I'd kind of thought it was a done deal, can you even learn as an adult. Maybe I should get a bike with stabilisers! ;-)

OP posts:
prettybird · 05/05/2011 16:02

There are some places that run "learn to cycle" classes (I know Glasgow has done them in the past and I am sure they're not alone).

Alternatively, you can get adult tricycles Grin

doley · 05/05/2011 16:21

op ~you won't need stabilizers ,prob just a patient husband Grin .

It is only a question of getting your balance really ,you can do it !

Original poster
MMQC · 05/05/2011 16:23

Well, I've done some Googling and it would appear it may not be too late, there are places offering both 'Cycling Proficiency' type training for my son and 'Learn to ride' lessons for adults. Apparently it shouldn't take more than two hours!

I've e-mailed a local lady to ask for details.
[gulp]

OP posts:
wotnochocs · 05/05/2011 16:23

I think in a year he will be fine, but not alone just yet.

Original poster
MMQC · 05/05/2011 16:36

Hmmm, patient husband could be tricky.

He tried to teach me to drive. It wasn't pretty!

OP posts:
diddl · 05/05/2011 16:38

OP-this will probably sound rude & I don´t wish it to be, but how have you got to adulthood without being able to ride a bike?

Hope it all goes well.

Original poster
MMQC · 05/05/2011 16:43

Simply never got around to it. Odd, I know, but I was a bookish child and never felt the urge!

OP posts:
HerbWoman · 05/05/2011 16:47

You can get websites with tips on riding a bike and I am just learning to ride one myself at the age of 40. Am still quite wobbly and am sticking to cycle paths or very quiet roads at the moment, but it is possible. DS (6) hurtles down to school on his bike, although he is on the pavement for now and he has to wait for me to catch him up at every road. Thought it would be better if I could keep up with him, so there you have it - I'm learning. And although I have put it off for so long, I am really enjoying it (although going down hills is terrifying at first!). I'm not sure you need your husband to teach you - maybe he could give you some tips first then you could find a quiet spot to have a go in.

Good luck!

But with regard to your original question, I wouldn't let a 7 yr old cycle that far alone, for the reasons already given - falling off alone, chain problems etc.

Takver · 05/05/2011 17:09

Just as encouragement, I knew a chap who lived in Cambridge but never rode a bike, he is deaf in one ear, and had been told as a child that he wouldn't be able to balance so he had never tried to learn.

Something prompted him to try - he must have been in his late 20s - and he learnt and was able to cycle confidently in a matter of weeks. So it definitely is possible! Good luck, cycling with children is lovely :)