Bicycle Network Victoria: Parents
FAQ's
When are children ready to ride?
How can I teach my child to ride?
What is the best way to encourage kids to be active on the way to school?
What are the benefits of allowing my child to ride or walk to school?
How much physical activity do kids need?
We live too far away for my child to ride or walk to school, but I still want them to benefit from active travel. Any tips?
Why is bike education important?
My child's school does not offer bike education. Is there another place children can be trained in bike ed?
How can I maximise the safety of my child on their ride/walk to school?
My child is passionate about riding. Are there any cycling clubs they can join?
How do I keep updated with all things active travel?
When are children ready to ride?
Children mature at different rates both physically and emotionally. Every child is unique and ages are only a guide. Parents/guardians need to use their own judgement particularly around a child's skill and maturity. We have some tips that you could use as a general rule.
How can I teach my child to ride?
Check out our tips, get rid of the training wheels, take off the pedals, lower the seat and they'll be riding in no time!
What is the best way to encourage kids to be active on the way to school?
As a parent you can encourage your children to be physically active every day in as many ways as they can. If you cycle with your children when they are young, they are more likely to continue cycling and to see bicycles as a great way to get around. Also, being a bike rider yourself and displaying a positive attitude to active travel is a fantastic way to encourage physical activity as young children are likely to model your behaviour.
What are the benefits of allowing my child to ride or walk to school?
Riding and walking to school has many benefits for your child. These include:
• It improves health and fitness in the midst of growing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes among youth.
• It helps develop self confidence
• Promotes interaction with the wider community.
• Kids who ride are more alert at school and better able to retain information.
How you benefit from allowing your child to actively travel to school:
• Reduces the wear and tear on your car
• Saves petrol as short trips are the least economical trips.
• Saves you time.
• Reduces stress at drop off and pick up time
Even your local community benefits!:
• Improves safety in the community - Having more people out and about and more ‘eyes on the street’.
• Encourages active and healthy lifestyles
• Fosters a sense of community by encouraging people to talk and interact with each other in the neighbourhood.
How much physical activity do kids need?
Children need at least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Children should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic media for entertainment, particularly during daylight hours when they could be playing outside. Walking or cycling to school is the perfect way for children to be active regularly.
We live too far away for my child to ride or walk to school, but I still want them to benefit from active travel. Any tips?
Many students, particularly in some outer suburban and regional areas, live some distance from school. Your child can still be active by walking or riding part of the way. Drop your children off a kilometre or so from the school and allow them to walk or ride the rest of the way. You could also encourage other parents to meet at the same drop off point and allow the children to ride/walk together. Encourage your school to take up Part Way is Ok and get the rest of the school involved.
Why is bike ed important?
Like most parents, you want your child to be the safest they can possibly be on their active travel journey to school. A child that is bike ed trained has:
• Gained knowledge and understanding of the road traffic environment and the road laws.
• Developed the physical and cognitive skills to manage the road traffic environment safely as a cyclist.
• Developed responsible behaviours, attitudes and decision-making skills for the safe use of bicycles both on and off the road through participation in enjoyable learning experiences relevant to their ages and abilities.
• Become competent to ride safely and independently on the road.
My child's school does not offer bike education. Is there another place children can be trained in bike ed?
If your child’s school does not offer bike ed, but you still feel your child would benefit from being involved with the program, click here fore our list of external providers.
How can I maximise the safety of my child on their ride/walk to school?
Practise, practise, practise
The best way to improve safety is to provide children with lots of opportunities to practice. Practise walking or riding to school on the weekend so your child is familiar and confident with the route. Children under 10 years are still developing their peripheral vision and hearing, so should be supervised around traffic, however if your child is over 10 years old, walk or cycle with them until you have peace of mind and become confident they have a well developed road sense.
Map out a safe route to school
Help your child map out a safe route to school which is usually the way with the least amount of traffic and fewest roads to cross. It is also a good idea to make sure your child knows people who live along the way.
Download our 10 easy steps to quiet neighbourhood routes here.
Download the GIS map here.
Road safety
Did you know … Children under 12 years are allowed to walk and cycle on footpaths? Teach them to look out for vehicles coming in and out of driveways as well as simple road rules such as stop at the kerb, look right, look left, then right again, listen for cars approaching and think before crossing. Getting your child involved in Bike education is a great way to ensure they learn the road rules and are taught how to ride safety. As your school if they offer bike ed or check out our list of external providers.
Equipment
Ensure your child has a water bottle and wears highly visible clothing and shoes. Make sure their bike is maintained and their helmet fits properly.
Weather
If your child rides in the rain, make sure they are wearing a waterproof jacket and have mud guards fitted to their bike. Also, make sure your child is sun smart even on cloudy days.
My child is passionate about riding. Are there any cycling clubs they can join?
There are many cycling clubs that introduce kids to the fun of simple cycling competition. Click here to find a cycling club near you.
How can I keep updated with all things active travel?
Ride2School's ‘Behind the Bike shed’ is a monthly e-newsletter which includes Ride2School related updates as well as all the latest active travel and healthy lifestyle news. Sign up today.