- Ride without your kids. Find your favorite streets and paths. Practice riding predictably and communicating with drivers. Go with the flow by riding with traffic rather than against it on one-way streets. The more comfortable you are on your bike, the more comfortable you’ll be with your kids.
- Ride with your kids before they can ride by themselves. Try trailers, baby seats or cargo bikes to start riding with young kids. Trail-a-bikes or tag-alongs allow older little ones to pedal behind you. These options keep you in control.
- Know when they’re ready. Your kids are ready to ride with you on their own on the street only when they can ride straight and will follow all of your verbal instructions. If they are not yet ready to follow your instructions, then they can ride with you or you can stick to quiet sidewalks, paved parks or schoolyards.
- Ride with good, safe gear. Helmets need to be adjusted properly so they are level to the ground and don’t move around if your child shakes her head yes and no. Bikes should fit comfortably. Tires should be well inflated. If the handlebars are twisted around, hand brakes will not work properly. The fix is usually just spinning the bar back around. Take a look before you head out to make sure everything is working properly and is adjusted to fit. If needed, stop at a local bike shop for help.
- Plan a great ride. Know your rider’s limits. Little bikes have little wheels so no matter how hard your child pedals, it’s harder for them to go as far as you or older siblings. Plan for a play or snack break. Try to anticipate potential mishaps. Bring water, a first aid kit, and a well-charged phone in case of an accident.
- Ride with other families. I help coordinate a family bike ride in my neighborhood in Chicago called Roscoe Village Kidical Mass. There might not be a ride in your area but Kidical Mass rides happen all over the country. We plan a family friendly ride usually with a play destination or special treat like bubbles or stickers. If there are no organized rides in your area reach out to neighbors or friends.
- Have a Plan B. The next time you tell your kids you’re going for a bike ride, you want smiles not whines so if your ride isn’t quite going well, know when to call it. Next time, go farther and enjoy exploring together for years to come!
Lesley Tweedie is the Co-Owner of Roscoe Village Bikes in Chicago. She and her husband have a three-year-old daughter and are expecting a baby in the fall. They ride together several times a week sometimes with a baby-seat and sometimes with a trailer. Their daughter also loves riding her balance bike.
