Road Cycling With Children

Cycling with children on the roads is something many parents are concerned about – and often frankly don’t do really well from what I’ve seen! However, it’s not hard to do and can reap enormous benefits in terms of the cycling skills of your children as well as your own enjoyment of the bike ride. So, here are some top tips!

Get the order of the family right! You want the most competent child at the front, any others in the middle and you at the back. Train the front child to identify and stop at junctions and to listen out for your shouted instructions. From the rear of the group you’ll have a full view of what is coming up as well as what your brood is doing! At trickier junctions or situations be ready to come forward alongside the group or the front child to advise and protect.

Get your road positioning correct! One of the biggest hazards for on-road cyclists is traffic from behind overtaking too closely. To prevent this from happening ensure your children cycle about a meter from the kerb (“an adult’s arm length” as I usually say) and you at the back cycle even further out – about the middle of the lane. Both these actions are intended to ensure traffic from behind will overtake on the other side of the road thus shielding your family.

Plan your route carefully! Far too often I see cyclists struggling along far-too busy roads when I can see a far more pleasurable alternative route available. It may be slightly longer but if it makes the ride safer and more enjoyable I would say it is worthwhile. You need to think differently as a cyclist than as a car driver. Hills and traffic density are factors which don’t matter much when you’re in your car, but matter a great deal when you’re on your bike – particularly with children. Take the time to look at a map before venturing out. Look for routes which minimise steep climbs and use quieter back roads to avoid heavy traffic. Remember you can also get off and walk down one-way streets or use footpath cut-throughs. Councils often produce cycling maps either on-line of printed maps with these routes clearly marked.

Train your children! If your child is aged between 10 and 12 you should look into them taking a Bikeability Level 2 road cycling course. These are usually offered through schools but also through groups like the Scouts. If you haven’t been invited to a course, find out why. Central government funds this course so it costs councils and schools nothing.

Don’t make obvious mistakes! The doors of parked cars may suddenly fling open – always cycle more than the width of a door away. Passing side roads is the most common accident for cyclists in this country. Teach your children to pull out to the middle of the road in-line with you to avoid being near the entrance to the side road.

Be confident! Roads are not the exclusive domain of car drivers. As a cyclist you are entitled to be on the road as well and there is nothing nicer than cycling as a family group. Happy cycling!