Parents 'stop children cycling' (UK)

[DS1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7380691.stm

Parents' fears about road safety are turning children into a lost generation of cyclists, says a government-backed agency that promotes cycling.

Four out of five children are banned from cycling to school by their parents, a poll of 1,079 parents for Cycling England suggests.

This compares with the 35% of parents who were allowed to bike to school when they were children themselves.

Launching Bike to School Week the group said road accidents are declining.

The survey found 81% of parents ban children from cycling independently.

This was creating a new breed of "cul-de-sac kids" restricted to cycling only in their own road and neighbouring streets, Cycling England warned.



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I used to explore all kinds of places on my bike growing up. You meet new people in different towns. Visit the other playgrounds 10 miles away which is just impractical on foot.

[lapfog_1]

1. Don't worry, there will be plenty of cyclists in the future. - n/t

[The Straight Story]

2. Well, if it saves lives we should put it into law

Got to protect people ya know! ;)

[qanda]

3. We are lucky to have a bike path near our house

My kids go on 8-10 mile bike rides often. However, I wouldn't let them ride that distance on the roads because I just don't think it's very safe.

[AndyTiedye]

4. We Weren't Allowed to Ride on the Main Drag

The 50 mile-per-hour speed limit and lack of shoulders may have had something to do with that. NOBODY biked on that road.

It was still possible to get all over town if you didn't mind riding on dirt roads though. Too bad they didn't have mountain bikes back then, but those old 3-speeds handled them reasonably well.

[Warpy]

5. I was an avid biker, too

and was always exploring new places, some of which would have turned my parents' hair white prematurely. It was great and I lived through it, much the way they had when they were kids (and I have my dad's diary to prove it).

I think the problem is that parents are both working now and feel control slipping away from them in too many areas of their kids' lives. They attempt to exert control any way they can, which means overscheduled and regimented kids. It's not going to last. Kids will rebel.

Any self respecting kid will break out of the cul de sac by the age of 10, 12 at the latest. I have every hope that any kid who has a bicycle will eventually use it for something besides pedaling around in tight circles.

[DS1]

7. My friends and I used to cross the highway (using a footbridge)

and travel up parking lots for a few miles to get to the mall :evilgrin:

We built our own dirt track in the woods and quickly learned who was coordinated and who should stick to walking. I couldn't imagine growing up getting driven around all the time - even if I did ask for it at the time.

[riverdeep]

6. It's okay.

They can pretend-bike on their wii.

Too much over-concern for safety makes kids neurotic. I was allowed to cross six lane highways at eight years old and travel all around my city. No play dates, you walked outside and found an activity.

Pretty soon you're going to need a helmet to eat pudding.

[DS1]

8. Pre-digested pudding

[orleans]

9. i thought it was weird to have laws putting young kids on bikes in the street

rather than the sidewalk.