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30 Comments

Mum turns to the internet for advice asking, “should you let your kids ride around the neighbourhood by themselves?”

The mum of two shared, “My kids (8 and 10 years) have just started riding more confidently and are keen to cycle to their friend’s house around the corner.

“My husband always reminds me that he rode his BMX to and from school when he was 11 but I’m pretty adamant that they’re too young.”

What mums says

Many parents argued that it really isn’t safe for kids today to head out on their own. While others said we need to teach kids to be independent and instill in them safety advice that they must adhere to.

Mum turns to the internet for advice asking, “should you let your kids ride around the neighbourhood by themselves?”

Morgan said, “I’m with you all the way. Times have changed, our children are irreplaceable.”

Another mum said, “Hell no! Streets today are not as safe as your husbands days.”

“Nope! It’s a fucked up world these days,” said another.

Maria said, ” No I’m always outside to watch them ride around the court.”

Emily shared, “I guess it depends on the maturity of your kids and the distance of their friends house. As a kid my friend and I would ride our bikes between each other’s houses. I wouldn’t let my eldest, who is 10 because I just don’t think *she* would be capable.”

Rebecca said, “My 10yr old rides his bike or walk to and from school they’re together give it a try.”

Jade said, “My 9 and 10yr old ride to their friends house and sometimes to school. School is only 2 blocks away and there friends wouldn’t be much further.”

Eve shared, “Yes, I have an 12 yr old who has been riding for 2 years. He’s been taught safety, road rules, how to cross roads etc. It all comes down to the preparation and maturity of the kid I think. Our almost 9 yr old will be allowed to go out soon, once we are sure he’s ready.”

Rachel said, “I’d do it a couple times with them and then let them go alone. Line it up with the parents so they can shoot you a text letting you know they arrive safely. They gotta start somewhere.”

What the experts say

While it is actually illegal in some states for children to ride their bikes on the road, it is mostly up to the discretion of parents.

Generally speaking, children under the age of twelve do not have the neuro-physiological and psychological development to cope with complex traffic situations on their own, shares Vic State Govt website.

Road safety authorities recommend that before the age of nine or ten years children should not ride a bicycle in traffic without adult supervision. Depending on their cycling skills and experience, some children over this age may still require supervision.

Children under the age of twelve may ride on footpaths as may a supervising adult. They are required to give way to pedestrians and to wheel their bicycles over pedestrian and children’s crossings. Children aged twelve years or older are required by law to ride on the road.

Do you let your kids ride by themselves?

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  • I think it depends what the area is like around where you live. We live in a small beachside town on one side of a main road. My kids were allowed to ride around our local streets but they knew that they were not allowed to go up to the main road.

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  • I think baby steps in a park area while you are observing and then always with a friend for safety, until later years.

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  • I think you have to build your kid’s responsibilities in order to let them do this. I was allowed to when I was 10 but I was also responsible enough to walk to the shops alone, walk home from school, cross the road independently etc etc.

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  • No my daughter is too young to go off by herself. Perhaps when she is a teenager. It is a bit of worry these days.

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  • Depends on how mature your children are and if they ride together. My children rode to school together and my eldest one used to go by bus to his grandmas house when he was 6 as I had to work and I was a single mum.

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  • I think a child’s a touristy counts for a lot – but I’d be reluctant till they were 13 or 14 years old.


    • Sorry, “maturity”, not touristy. Don’t knw what happened there!

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  • If I lived in the city I wouldn’t let my boys ride their bicycles alone. We live in the country with only 450 residents and their friends are only a block away. I still worry until I know they have arrived there though

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  • it really depends on so many factors including age of the kids, the physical neighbourhood and other specifici individual factors. up to parents to make a reasonable decision based on their knowledge.

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  • I think it depends on the kids and the roads! If it is a very quiet street and not to far away, I’d be OK with that. If my child was a bit reckless or not good at problem solving, I would wait a bit more.

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  • In this day and age, kids aren’t interested in riding bikes at all, let alone around the neighbourhood. There is absolutely fear in our area from kids being assaulted and having their bikes, shoes, phones stolen… so if my son was young enough to ride his bike, I would be fearful for him.

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  • I let my kids ride to their friends houses but they are able to get there using footpaths and only having to cross x 2 quiet cul de sacs. I’m not willing to let them go too far yet but that’s only because the roads are busier.

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  • Guess it depends on your neighborhood, we live a very safe and friendly one in a small town and I see kids riding their bikes home from school etc.

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  • If they were being supervised then yes. In this day and Age you really can’t trust anyone and the last thing that you would want is for something to happen to your child. This is the nanny country that we now live in unfortunately.

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  • One of my favourite childhood memories is riding my bike down the street having races and riding to my friends house however with my own kids I am wary it also depends where you live and how busy the traffic is we live in a quite no through road street and the kids do ride out the front I will let my ids ride out the front as long as it’s only in our street and I can see them at all times

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  • This really depends on the parent. I personally would not, but I see lots of children riding bikes everywhere.

    Reply

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