http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/opus-rambler-24-wheel-kids-bike/

I will be setting out on a bike tour around the US this year, pedaling only a single speed, in honor of those simple days gone by. The goal is to help create awareness about the issue of Childhood Obesity and inspire some kids to get out and hop on a bike. Along the way I hope to raise over $11,000 for local charities that support getting our kids out and fit. It is only a dollar for each mile pedaled, but every little bit helps.

As I travel the country I will be stopping in towns to do presentations and talks to both parents and kids about the benefits of getting out, getting fit, and riding a bike. You can read more about my upcoming adventure at: http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com.

Great article, thanks!

Parents might well worry about a 12 year old, but they should worry a great deal more about an eight year old, who is too young to have reliable focus, impulse control, or the ability to predict drivers’ actions in traffic. See this review study on pedestrian education:

Duperrex O, Bunn F, Roberts I. Safety education of pedestrians for injury prevention: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2002 May 11; 324(7346): 1129.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC107905/?tool=pubmed

“…Our review indicates that there is no reliable evidence supporting the effectiveness of pedestrian education for preventing injuries in children and inconsistent evidence that it might improve their behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge. While the value of safety education of pedestrians remains in doubt, environmental modification and the enforcement of appropriate speed limits may be more effective strategies to protect children from road traffic.”

Riding a bike in traffic is a far more complex and sustained sequence of actions compared to walking across a street. City ordinances often forbid children from riding on sidewalks, and even well engineered bike lanes are likely to pose too many risks for children. Non-cycling drivers often are unaware of cyclists’ legal rights and practical difficulties, such as the hazard of “dooring” by parallel parked cars, or of getting pasted by a driver making a right turn across a cyclist’s path.

I agree with the poster, above, who advocates strong driver education about cyclists’ rights and vulnerabilities. I do not agree that such education warrants any reduction in the steps of a graduated licensing program, as if such a program were a punishment. Insurance companies will not likely offer any discount without strong evidence of a long-term savings for themselves.

By all means, let’s teach children the rules of the road from an early age. But let’s keep them on tandem bikes till they can safely follow along in a straight line on their own bikes. Then let’s continue to accompany them in traffic till they’re well into adolescence. Riding a bike in traffic is a lot harder than driving a car in traffic–and a whole lot riskier.

1) Let’s make learning to ride a bike part of every kid’s Grade 5 phys-ed curriculum so that they learn to ride and/or learn the rules of the road then. For kids without bikes, I’m sure that there would be ways to find loaners or donations.

2) Let’s make passing a certified cycling course the first step of a graduated car licensing program, by either:
a) Making it mandatory for new drivers before they get behind the wheel of a car
b) Make it voluntary but then reduce the length of subsequent steps of the graduated licensing regime for kids who passed a cycling course
c) Offering discounted car insurance for kids who first did a cycling course.

To my mind, both ideas would:
a) Introduce more kids and youth to cycling (since many never even learn these days)
b) Allow kids to learn the rules of the road and be confident cyclists
c) Legitimize cycling as a “adult” way of travelling
d) Allow kids to learn the rules of the road without being behind a deadly 2,000 pound machine
e) Give new car drivers an appreciation of what it’s like to cycle even if they never touch a bike again.
f) Persuade some kids to forgo getting their car license once they realize how much fun cycling is
g) Create a sustainable demand for certified cycling courses
h) Encourage more youth to buy adult-sized bikes and thus continue riding
i) Get more bums on bike seats and wheels on the road

But what do you think? Would it work? How might we make these two ideas work?

Thanks, Dwayne (learningcycle.ca)