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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Cycling on the road

5 replies

RhinestoneCowgirl · 29/07/2013 20:08

DS is nearly 7 and loves riding his bike. I've just got back into cycling (I use it to travel for work) and DH has always been a keen cyclist. We're lucky to live fairly near to the Bristol-Bath cycle path and have had a few family outings there.

What I'd like to know is what age should DS start cycling on the road (accompanied) and what's the best way to go about it? Do school cycling proficiency courses still exist? Thanks

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lljkk · 29/07/2013 20:12

cycling proficiency: depends on your area. supposedly I live in the only county in England that still offers it for free (end of yr5).

We cycle with ours on roads from 4-5, but to be honest, I don't feel happy about it until about 9yo.

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RhinestoneCowgirl · 29/07/2013 20:19

Thanks lljkk, I suppose it all ties in with road safety as a pedestrian, which I'm talking about a lot with DS at the moment.

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plipplops · 30/07/2013 00:25

We live in a rural village and DD and I cycle to school sometimes, we started when she was 5. She goes in front and I sort of talk her through everything on the way (including safety aspects and what she needs to look out for etc.) We're a very very long way off her going on her own but I think that getting experience on the road is the best way for her to learn. Also it's such a small village that virtually every one who gets stuck behind passes us on the way will recognise us and is careful when they go by.

I'm not sure how helpful that was? If we lived somewhere more built up it would feel a couple of years off yet (she's just turned 6)

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Original poster

RhinestoneCowgirl · 30/07/2013 13:46

Thanks for replying plipplops, when I was 9 we moved out of London to a country town and this where I really got to grips with my bike. I used to go out for country rides with my dad on summer evenings.

Where I live now is very urban, need to try and find some quietish back roads and take it slowly.

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ipanicked · 31/07/2013 20:25

We let DS (4) cycle on the road accompanied if there's a decent cycle path, or it's a very, very quiet road, but I've told him he won't cycle on the road properly until he's done cycling proficiency. If we lived somewhere rural, I wouldn't have so much of a problem though. Our local council offers it for free - maybe try your council?

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