This document discusses the benefits of family cycling and provides tips for cycling with children of different ages. It notes that cycling can improve health, reduce traffic and pollution, and foster a stronger sense of community. While only a small percentage of children currently bike to school, promoting initiatives like school travel plans, bike training programs, and improved infrastructure could encourage more utility cycling among families.

1. Family cycling William Baker & Emma Barraclough

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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!

5. Babies and toddlers

6. 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

11. 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

14. Victoria Park

15. Pedalling passengers

16. 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”

20. 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

27. Pedalling independently

28. 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

31. 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

34. 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

37. Malago Greenway

38. 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

39. 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

40. Bike It, Slow Bike Race, Hanham

41. 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

42. Kentisbeare Junior Cycling Clubwww.kjcc.org.uk

44. The Bristol & Bath Railway Path

45. Utility family cycling

49. 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

50. 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

52. 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

55. Bike It, new cycle storage, Bradley Stoke

56. 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

57. 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