Cycling with children

Using a bike is a practical, economical and environmentally-friendly way to travel with children.

‘Cycling with your kids is more than a good way of getting them out of the house and exercising – it turns even mundane trips such as the school run into quality time,’ says Allison Crisp, one of our family experts. ‘It’s all about making it safe and enjoyable.’

Equipment

For children between the ages of nine months and three years the best option is a child seat, which can be fitted in front or behind the rider. Get in touch with us for more information and advice about the different types of child seats available on the market.

Slightly older children – usually those between one and six years old – can be transported in a trailer, which is exactly that: an attachment that can be dragged behind a bike using a strong piece of cable. One downside of the trailer is that once at the park or playground, the child can’t ride by themselves. ‘It’s also fairly exhausting for the parents who are pedalling,’ Allison says.

The trailer bike is a perfect solution for children who are too old for a child seat or trailer but too young to ride on their own. Designed much like a tandem bicycle, the trailer bike gives the child a feeling of freedom and control while the responsibility remains with the main rider.

Children as young as four can be ready for their first bike, and getting the size right makes all the difference. Although it might seem expensive to buy a custom-sized bike for a child growing so fast, buying one that is too big can make control difficult and dent a child’s confidence. The child should be able to stand astride the bike with both feet on the ground.

A common misconception is that training wheels or ‘stabilisers’ help children learn how to cycle quicker. In fact, they prevent children from learning balance and cause bikes to topple when one training wheel hits an obstacle. Training in a traffic-free area on two wheels, with a parent running behind to keep the rider steady, will have your child on two wheels much more quickly.

Safety

Even the best cyclists fall off their bikes, but giving a child some advice on how to fall can prevent major injury. Before your child starts cycling on the road, they should have some road safety training. Contact us for information on where your children can attend cycling proficiency classes near you.

Another myth surrounding cycling with children is that it is unsafe, but statistics show that drivers are far more likely to be in an accident. Road deaths in the UK are approximately 3,000 per year, a figure that dwarfs cycling-related deaths.

‘When families cycle together, the trip is as much about the journey as the destination. It’s fun, cheap, and healthy and all the while it helps to reduce a family’s carbon footprint,’ says Allison.