Riding bikes around the block

When did you let your kids ride around the block themselves?

My son is 10.5 and was riding around with friends last night. We live in a culdasac and our development is a big circle. Of course cars still fly down the roads.

I am ok as long as he's with his friends and they stay together. One friend keeps his phone with him. DS only has a phone that he can use when connected to Wifi.
Last night about 4 - 5 kids were riding bikes, but of course it was getting dark so made them come in.

Re: Riding bikes around the block

Last year when my oldest with 10 - I started to let him ride bikes with friends and walk up to the school playground (6 blocks away). It is nerve wracking in the beginning. I am always worried they will do something stupid more than something happening to them.

Riding bikes around the block

I let my son start at 9. He’s only allowed to go so far though. He’s 10 now.

Re: Riding bikes around the block

not there yet. they can ride as far as I can see their smile. that's it...for now.

waiting to see them to consciously look both ways before crossing the street without being reminded.

Re: Riding bikes around the block

Mine started at the same time so they would be together. They were 8 and 9 at the time.

Riding bikes around the block

my oldest is 9- hes an "older" 3rd grader, and was one of the first in his class to turn 9, with a fall birthday. Before it started getting cold out, he would go ride his bike around the neighborhood by himself- its about a .75 mile loop he rides on. other kids in his grade were out on their own, too. but we kind of have a unique situation- we bought my ILs house from them, so this is where DH grew up, too- its all the same neighbors as when he was growing up here, or its THEIR kids who did the same thing we did and bought houses here after the grew up here. SO we feel comfortable because everybody knows who my son is, and which house he belongs to HAHA
One little girl in his grade has a Gizmo Watch that she wears, and we're going to look into it for him, too. If you have Verizon Cell phones, it costs $5 a month, and it lets them call you (and 2 or 3 other numbers that you pre program in there) or you can "text". and i'm pretty sure it has a GPS thing on it, too that can let you know where they are. Its definitely an interesting concept to be able to have contact without giving them a phone at 9/ 10 years old... LOL

Re: Riding bikes around the block

My son is 11 and can’t event ride a bike. I’m failing as a parent, can one of your kids come teach him lol.

Re: Riding bikes around the block

Nope.

I recently got hit by a car pulling full speed out of their driveway not looking.
I drive a huge SUV. TONS of damage to it. I was glad my kid was still in a booster. It was one block away from my house!!!!

I was hit as a kid in my bike by cars in the 90s.

My neighbor was almost hit as she was following her kid round the block by a car last year.

My kids will not do the bike thing in the neighborhood. They ride when I take them to the park.

ETA: I know pretty much all my neighbors. I live in a great neighborhood: people remark it’s like Sesame Street. I just diner think people expect kids/people on bikes

Message edited 1/31/2020 10:27:13 PM.

Re: Riding bikes around the block

Riding bikes around the block

I let my daughter ride to her friends house on our street...about 15 houses down. She’s almost 9. But I watch her ride away, and her friends mom is waiting for her to approach.
I might loosen up in a few years but we’ll see.
The one thing she does know is that wearing a helmet is not negotiable, And if I ever see her riding without one, she’ll no longer have a bike.

Riding bikes around the block

Maybe when they are teens lol. We live on a busy street and I put cones out in the street when they are riding and I watch them. People speed and don’t even slow down when they see the kids. The traffic cones seem to help....

Riding bikes around the block

Mine is 12 and rides her bike to her friend's house which is probably 3/4 of a mile away through our neighborhood. We don't have sidewalks, and I do worry about the cars and people texting. But, we have to let them grow up at some point, right?

Riding bikes around the block

At 11, nope. Only with us on bike trails. The roads are not safe for bike riders. This girl (11 or 12), looked one way and rode her bike right in front of our SUV. Thank God DH saw her through the bushes or it would not have ended well.

Message edited 3/30/2020 9:36:57 PM.