Kids riding their own bike on the road with an adult

Riding with your child on the road is a great way to transition your child to being an independent rider in traffic. You can assist your child to learn how to ride in traffic and help keep them safe in this very busy, dynamic and often unpredictable environment.

When learning something new it is often recommended to start small and easy and build into more challenges.  Being able to cycle on the road is a great example of this graduation.  To support their safety and confidence carefully select the environment they ride in  Start their learning journey with a small rides in less busy environments.  Thinking about the time of day you are riding (traffic flow), the number of obstacles you will face (traffic lights, changing lanes, intersections etc) and as their knowledge, confidence and skills grow progress onto more challenging traffic environments. Always give yourself  lots of time  (never be under time pressure through this process, you will be stopping often especially in the beginning!)

Work out how you will communicate. Before you ride in traffic work together to understand some basic communication. You will need both verbal and hand signals (as often you may not be able to hear each other). The obvious and essential communication is stop and go. There may be others that you consider important especially around speed, the idea is to ride close together and stay this way.

Where you are riding relative to your child can influence their safety and the type of learning they will experience.  Your position can stay the same for the entire ride or change depending on the traffic flow and what you are dealing with.

• Riding in front of your child – great for role modelling riding behaviour and the rules of riding on the road. They are following your lead. You are making the decisions. You will need to be conscious that when you make a decision there is enough space for your child to complete the movement as well. Therefore be patient, wait for larger gaps in traffic. This is often a good way to start riding together on the road. Communication is important and speed choice, as you can not see what they are doing or how far behind you they are.
• Riding behind your child – positioning yourself between your child and traffic approaching from behind will provide a sense of protection. Ride behind and slightly wider than them. They will be making the decisions and you can often talk to them to reassure them and talk them through and assist with some of these decisions.
• Two adults – if you have the luxury of 2 adults having one at the front and one at the back can be a great way to get started with riding on the road together. This will provide lots of learning opportunities with role modelling from the leading adult and the adult behind able to talk through some of those decisions.
• Riding beside your child – traffic side, on their right. This will make you wide and is discouraged in busy and narrow road environments. However there may be times when it is safe and you feel confident to ride side by side… choose those times wisely. It is a great way to be able to communicate while riding together.

Encourage and praise your child as they learn the rules of riding on the road and making decisions. It is a great idea while out riding together to stop in a safe place and talk through situations, scenarios and decisions you have made and why. Discussing them as they happen is the best way to cement their learning however it is also important to make time after your ride to talk and answer any questions that your child may have.  Try to make it short and fun, choose a destination they like or have a reward ready when they get home.  You will need to be patient and kind.  Communication is key, at times you will need to be loud so let them know you are not shouting at them.

Enjoy riding together and remember there can only be positive outcomes for supporting your child in becoming a safe rider in traffic.