I'm wondering what other moms think is the appropriate age for a child to be able to ride their bike to and from school? My daughter is 10, going into 5th grade and has asked about this. I'd like for her to be able to do it; however, the idea of her being out riding alone (without me yelling "look both ways!") makes me SOOO nervous. She'd be riding on a bike path 90% of the way there, the school is about 1/2 mile away from our house. She would have to cross the street from our condo complex to the bike path, then cross a set of lights where the path continues. After that, she'd have to cross one more street (with a stop sign) and her school is right there. My husband's office is diagonally across the street from her school. I know I probably sound crazy for even being worried, I'm just not sure about this! I feel like I should drive the car to school at the same time she is riding her bike, but then that would defeat the purpose of her riding by herself!
Thanks for all the responses! My husband is going to buy himself a bike and ride with her. He can watch her cross the street to school while he goes to his office. I didn't mention that I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant, so I won't be riding with her right now!
My next door neighbor started allowing her nine year old to ride to school this year. Like you, she was very concerned. The first two days she rode her bike with her daughter and modeled what she wanted her to do. The next few days, she followed behind in her car. Then she checked on her daughter when she wasn't expecting it. She never saw anything but good, safe behavior, but it made her feel a lot better about allowing her daughter to ride.
Why don't you ride with her? It would be a nice way to start the day.
It all depends on the child and your location. For us, even though our daughter is a very mature 9 1/2 yr old, she won't be going anywhere by herself until she's atleast 12, possibly older. It's not that I don't trust HER--it's the area we're in.
your child is at the perfect age to ride her bike to school. You just need to ask yourself, is she a responsible bike rider? Does she know the way to school?
Perhaps reading the book "free range kids" by lenore skenazy would make you feel better. She's "America's worst mom" because she let her 9 year old ride the subway alone. It's a great book and definately makes you feel better about letting your perfectly capable kid ride their bike to school. It will make them feel like you trust them and kids like having responsibilities.
I haven't had a chance to read the other responses yet, but my instinct would selfishly be "no thank you". I say selfishly because I'd spend the whole day wondering, did she make it school. What if she fell and I wouldn't know she was missing until 8 hours later.
If she were riding with a couple of friends I would consider it but not by herself at 10. It's not that I wouldn't trust my daughter but there are too many crazy people out there. If she had other friends with her I'd feel more comfortable (safety in numbers). One of my friends allows her 10 year old to ride his bike, but she makes him clip a walk-e-talk-e to his belt and they communicate from time to time while he's riding. I might consider that but otherwise, it would be too risky in my opinion.
Maybe you could walk with her?
She could ride to work with hubby and then ride her bike across the street?
You are a good mom to be worried. That is your job. Now you have to let her go :) That is also your job. Good luck!
