Family Cycling 2010

Family cycling
William Baker &
Emma Barraclough

Overview
Context
How to cycle with children
babies and toddlers
pedalling passengers
Cycling independently
learning to ride
cycling on roads
cycling independently
Family cycling
Cycling to school
BCC priorities

Health and safety
“We are creating a nation of battery-reared children instead of free range children”
Obesity epidemic:
27% children in 2009 overweight
not rise in calories consumed but fall in calories expended
health experts: > 1 hour/day of exercise
The school run:
1/5 of traffic at 8.50 am on week days
accidents at school gates
parents’ perception: walking & cycling unsafe

Family & children cycling
Less traffic
less CO2
reduces stress
more sociable urban environment
Improved quality of life
health and exercise
children more alert and focussed
more independent
better sense of place
Build into everyday tasks and leisure
FUN!

Babies and toddlers

Child seats
9 mths – 4/5 yrs (depending on weight)
The bike:
mountain or hybrid work best
wide, lower pressure tyres: absorb bumps
Tips:
reclining rear seats: sleeping babies
strap baby’s feet in
wrap up warm, protect against rain
fit handlebar mirror (traffic & baby)
low rider front panniers: baby paraphernalia
Start young
baby takes it for granted
bike handling easier as baby grows

Child trailers
Many advantages over child seats
Can carry 2 children, shopping, paraphernalia
Can use with 3mth babies in car seat
More comfortable for child
Better protection against weather
Some convert to prams or skis!
HOWEVER, harder work for cyclist

Victoria Park

Pedalling passengers

Trailer bikes
Suitable for age 4 – 9
Tow bar to child’s bike
Rack or seat post attached
Rack attached better, though cost more
Handling can be difficult, particularly for seat-post attached
Hard work for parent on longer rides
“Most of the time you won’t get much help in powering along, yet when your co-rider really pedals you will feel it”

Tandems
Very efficient and sociable
Kiddy back or ‘kiddy front’
scaled for child from start
Adapt adult tandem
kiddy cranks
crank shorteners
shorter cranks
extend reach of handlebars
Toe clips make a big difference
Triplets

Pedalling independently

Getting started
Most children can learn between age 3 & 6
Secret of cycling is balance, not pedalling
Start with ‘push along’ (age 2+) or bike with pedals removed
Scooters also help
Avoid stabilisers if pos
Look out for Lidl bargains: £10-30

Learning to ride
Remove pedals
Seat low enough for both feet flat on the ground
Explain brakes; use front brake
Find gentle slope
Coast towards parent – in front of bike
“On a bike you go where you look. So look where you want to go”
Once used to coasting, re-fit pedals

Buying a child’s bike
Make sure it fits
important for safety
not a case of ‘growing into it’
Light weight is vital: you will carry it a lot
Suspension adds weight and of little use
More gears are not better
Front derailleurs superfluous until older
Riding position: fairly upright
Brakes and cranks sized properly
Don’t skimp – still cheaper thanXbox+games

Malago Greenway

Road cycling: with parent
Basics for children
competent cyclist
responds to instructions
knows left and right
Road positioning
child leads, parent bike length behind
parent rides further out in road
call out instructions
ride alongside coming up to side roads
Cycling as a family: options

Road cycling: independent
Pavement cycling: <10 not liable
Age 8 – 11: can start cycling on roads without supervision
Cycle training (Bikeability)
level 1: cycle control
level 2: intro to road cycling
level 3: more advanced road cycling
parents need training too
Increases independence
av. distance secondary school: 3.3 miles
see friends and go to leisure activities

Bike It, Slow Bike Race, Hanham

Family cycling
Family bike rides
cycle paths and quiet roads
about 10 miles
lots of breaks
train assisted are very popular
but most trains only 2-4 bikes
Multi-family group rides
tag-alongs, tandems and solos
more fun for kids if other kids cycling
build in other activities

Kentisbeare Junior Cycling Clubwww.kjcc.org.uk

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path

Utility family cycling

Cycling to school
1% primary and 4.2% secondary pupils cycle to school, yet 31% want to
Denmark: 50% pupils cycle to school
Why is cycling to school so low?
not encouraged
nowhere safe to park bikes
lack confidence, yet training free for Yr 3+
worried about cycling in traffic
Survey at Exeter secondary school
570 pupils cycled in 1 week; 3 were girls
Big in accidents, primary to secondary

Cycling to school: Bristol
Cycling city
2008: 901 cycled to school; 2009: 977 (48k)
target to double number by 2011
School travel plans: sustainable transport
Govt target: all schools by March 2010
6 out of 180 Bristol LEA schools - no plans
2004 school travel target for Bristol:
car use does not increase
Situation in 2010
slight decrease in primary
slight increase in secondary: school choice

Children cycling initiatives
School travel plans
survey, issues, proposed solutions
route to school planning maps
‘wheels and heels’ grants
cycling events, initiatives, storage
bike events: cycle from 3% to 60-90%
Sustrans bike it
support to schools, cycling champions
cycling levels 5x national average
CTC bike club
age10-20 projects, partic low income & BME

Bike It, new cycle storage, Bradley Stoke

BCC, families and children
Set up family cycling group
leaflets, school newsletters, Council support
driving to ride starts?
School travel plans
lobby to improve, more Council support
quiet routes to school, discourage driving
Utility cycling
encourage family & child cycling
general cycle promotion, e.g. 20mph limit
Other lobbying
improve off-road & quiet routes
more bikes on trains

Further information
w.baker@blueyonder.co.uk & emma_barraclough@hotmail.com
BCC family bike rideswww.discoverbristol.btik.com/home.ikml
www.bikeability.org.uk/
www.schooltravelplans.org
http://bikeclub.org.uk/
www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/bike-it
Kentisbeare Junior Cycling Clubwww.kjcc.org.uk

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Family Cycling 2010

by Bristol Cycling Campaign on May 06, 2010

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