How old should kids be before they ride bikes around on their own?

[JessetheCowgirl]

My DS (not quite 6) thinks he should be able to ride his bike in our neighborhood to a friend's house, etc, without me.

NO WAY!!!

Even though lots of neighborhood kids come to our house on their own (by bike, skateboard, scooter or foot), I just don't think it is safe.

We do live in a "safe" neighborhood (if there is such a thing) where most of the families know each other, but I still say no.

Is there an age where you think this is okay? I mean, I suppose before he graduates from high school I will have to let him go places without me.

What do you think?

 

[Tinkerbellish]

Noooo! 13 at least.

Heck, I'm 13 and I say that.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

My cousin's DD is 12 and she is now allowed to ride to her friends house down the street alone and back, as long as it is before dark. My cousin just started allowing this this year.

I think it depends on the child, the area and what you feel is best.

I think 6 is a little young, but maybe 8 or 9 before dark, on the same street would be okay.

 

[disykat]

It also depends on the neighborhood. We live on a street that ends in a culdesac. My kids got the run of a certain part of our street at age 9 ( we have a dark patch of asphalt that has always been our boundry line, even when I'm watching). They have to ask before riding so I know they are up on the road. My 11 year old just got limited freedom in our neighborhood - which is three adjoining culdesacs.

Prior to age nine I supervised every single time they rode on the road. Our street has a corner right before the culdesac and the kids needed to be old enough "get" that just because there isn't much traffic doesn't mean they don't have to watch that corner just in case.

 

[soccercruiser87]

i'd say any where between 11-13...make sure they have a helmet on...safety first.

 

[dg39]

My block is a circle with not many houses on it at all. My dd is 10yrs. old and when she goes out with her bike, I give her the walkie talkie to clip onto herself. I also go out and check on her every 5 min. I still hate when she wants to ride her bike or go out front. No matter how "safe" the neighborhood is we still worry. Sometimes I want it to rain, so she can't go outside.

 

[Microcell]

DD is 6 and I call to make sure she got next door when they are expecting her! Bikes probably won't happen until 13 or 14.

 

[shortbun]

In a big city here. 12 or 13 for sure. Some of my neighbors are
allowing their 5 and 6 year olds to ride up and down the street
unsupervised -it's a long street. Mine is 9 and still can't do it;
he's stopped asking. We go on long family rides often.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Ummmmmmmmm, I think 25! Seriously, isn't it hard to know? What makes them ready?

Isabella (6) walks next door to play and I stand on the porch. Heaven help me when she wants to ride or walk to Katie's house just around the corner.

 

[cheyita]

Sometimes when I see the freedom some kids have, I feel like I must be the crazy one. Thank you guys for reminding me that it's okay to be cautious.

My DD8 has the freedom to ride her bike/hang out in an area going three houses on either side of ours, but I keep stepping outside to check on her. Going out of our sight range will take another couple of years.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by cheyita
Sometimes when I see the freedom some kids have, I feel like I must be the crazy one. Thank you guys for reminding me that it's okay to be cautious.

 

[VampHeartless]

I think I was five or six when I first started riding around....

Then again...we didn't have kindergartners with Uzies back in those days either...

 

[LisaSt]

As soon as thewy are capable of it they should be able to do it. OUr kids ride around our place every day and they are 7 3 and 1.5

 

[Robinrs]

It depends on the area. A 9yo on a bike was killed recently in my complex by a hit and run driver. If I lived on a cul de sac or a private area it would not be a problem but if there is a lot of thru traffic no earlier than 13 out of my sight.

 

[tiggerlover]

Thanks so much for posting this thread, now I feel like I am not alone in my feelings. We just moved into a house on a court, I suppose some would refer to it as a cul-de-sac, there is no outlet and it ends with a half circle of houses at the end, there are 12-14 houses total on the block. My DS is 8 and ever since we moved in a few weeks ago he just loves riding his bike with a couple of the neighbor kids and this stresses me out greatly. I am constantly running to the front of the house to check on him and I can never get anything done. I too some times wish it would rain so he can't ride. The street is not busy with cars, my biggest fear is him being lured away and being abducted. Our street is right off of a through road that gets a lot of use and our house is the second one in from the corner so DS has been instructed not to pass our driveway towards the main road, but I do let him go to the court which is about 4-5 house down, but still I hate the nervous feeling I have when he is out there.