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 than

Xbox+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

Cycling to school in Bristol

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

4.50%

5.00%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Per

cent

age Nurseries

Primaries

Secondaries

All Schools

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 rides

www.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 Club

www.kjcc.org.uk