Cycling demographics - no kids on bikes

fat bloke

We all know cycling has undergone a massive change in terms of popularity of late. Leisure cycling on the increase, races over subscribed, lads selling their Grannies for ROK tickets etc etc. . But is it demographically doomed to declination?
I work in a primary school in suburban South Dublin. About 250 kids I reckon. -5 bikes. That's about how many cycle. I also live near the largest primary school in the country - Colmcille's junior and senior which between them must have nearly 2500 children. Ok, granted, the infants classes aren't really going to cycle (though there is an junior infant comes to our school on a balance bike fair play to her!), but you could be forgiven for thinking the morning traffic must be thronged with kids on bikes cycling to school.

- Nope. Not at all.

Plenty of them walk it has to be said. This is not a anti-car rant, or an anti-anything rant really. I just wonder why more don't cycle. There's a lad I pass every evening walking home and I can't understand why he's not on a bike - turn his 15 minute walk into a 5 minute cycle. I also wonder - if these children don't grow up using a bike to get around, will they ever do so? Will they wait til they're 40 and paunchy and their own kids are out of nappies and then go out and join a club, join cycling Ireland and buy a road bike? A lot of people are doing today, but I was under the general impression that they were folks who had cycled as kids and were only coming back to a sport or activity in which they had previously participated.

The other thing is I guess, no more than Brazilian tiki-taka football skills, if you don't learn your bike handling skills cycling around your back garden or front yard when you're young, they're never quite going to take when you're older.

I guess the people who frequent this forum are more likely to have their kids on bikes, but the empty (or worse - non-existent) bike racks in front of our schools makes me wonder for the future of our current cycling boom.

JBokeh

Kids just don't seem to be as outdoorsy as they were in days gone by. Kids always used to play in the streets, we were in the country side, so we would cycle a few km to our friends houses, cycle a few more km to the shop, buy some sweets, eat them, cycle to the fortress we had built in the forest, and get home just in time for dinner. Must have done that every day every summer until we discovered girls.
We had no mobile phones, jut knew what time to come home, none of us got in any stranger's transit vans.

The kids in my area play on bikes a bit, but I've never seen them going any further than the end of our road, I doubt they cycle to the local school, which is around 3km away. I think the kids now might be a bit wilder, but are kept on a tighter leash than they were 20 years ago, we were the last of the feral children

flatface

I was surprised by the amount of bikes at my kids school, lots of parents dropping off with bikes too.

As bike to work gets parents comuting, those parents are more likely to encourage their kids to cycle I guess.

Peterx

Christmas Day in a housing estate told the same sorry tale a few years ago.
I went for a walk to sample the fresh air after a good breakfast and before mandatory mass only to find I had the place to myself, not a single child out on a bike, scooter or skateboard. Mad Ted.

Wishbone Ash

fat bloke wrote: »

....I guess the people who frequent this forum are more likely to have their kids on bikes....

My 14 year old daughter wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a bike or near me when I'm in Lycra!

Domane

All my kids have bikes but rarely use them, much to my annoyance. They'll sit for hours playing Call of Duty or on their tablets when I'm in work even if the sun is shining outside. Jeez when I was a kid, I was never in, even if it was pissing rain outside. I'm still the same, rather be outside no matter the weather. However the current young generation are a bunch of couch potatoes, afraid to go outside for fear of getting hurt. It's not that I'm an overly protective parent, in fact I encourage my kids to run, cycle, climb trees etc. However they're taught all about personal safety in school that I think it makes the paranoid and afraid to take risks, no matter how small. My kids school has over 700 pupils but I've never seen any of them cycle to school. All dropped off by mommy or daddy at the school gate. Have to agree with the OP, what's the future of cycling if kids aren't taking to two wheels now? Will they start cycling when they're 40 with stabilisers on their road bikes?

flatface

“There has probably never been a generation since the Paleolithic that did not deplore the fecklessness of the next and worship a golden memory of the past”

smacl

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

My 14 year old daughter wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a bike or near me when I'm in Lycra!

Silmilar enough with my two girls, 12 and 16, if I'm wearing lycra I'd better come in the side door if they've mates around. The principal blocking factors for mine have been helmets and high-viz on the one side coupled with parental road safety fears on the other. The 16 year old used the bike a bit over the summer to get to friends houses, and a few of her friends are regular cyclists. The youngest is going to a secondary about 7k from the house and given that it would be two buses has decided cycling is the way to go, which is great. Wearing a helmet and having independence slightly trumps being seen with parents.

The other blocker to cycling to school is that the number and weight of school books has gone up considerably over the years, with printers pushing workbooks that you fill in rather than separate text books and copies that might get passed on to a sibling hence killing off a future sale. To get our daughter to cycle to school will probably involve getting two copies of they heavier text books (and hopefully encouraging the staff to use on-line material and project work).

jamesd

Our club is running a cycling Ireland course called Sprocket Rocket for kids, we limited it to 12 kids for the first set of classes and had to turn many kids away.
Excellent way to get kids interested in cycling.

Macy0161

smacl wrote: »

The other blocker to cycling to school is that the number and weight of school books has gone up considerably over the years, with printers pushing workbooks that you fill in rather than separate text books and copies that might get passed on to a sibling hence killing off a future sale. To get our daughter to cycle to school will probably involve getting two copies of they heavier text books (and hopefully encouraging the staff to use on-line material and project work).

I walked my chaps to school yesterday, both in national school. I carried their bags, as even at 1st and 2nd class and they were heavy enough. If I was cycle commuting with that weight every day, they'd be going on a rack not the back tbh. I've asked this before, I'm not sure there are pannier rack options (that'd take the weight) for children's bikes? You'd be looking at seat post options, which I don't think would take the weight.

Both walking them to school, and when I was walking to collect them, I had a close pass each way (i.e. 2 out of 4 trips) on the rural, on road section. I have to say, I'm not sure I'd be entirely comfortable even with me beside them, given the attitude/ ignorance of some motorists to giving enough space to cyclists or pedestrians.

Seaswimmer

One of the other main factors reducing cycling numbers in kids/teenagers is that often there is no functioning bike easily available to them.

Most people on this forum will have their kids bikes ready to go, well maintained and easily available.

However the norm in my experience from my own family and friends is that the bike sits in the shed for a few weeks and when the child finally gets it from behind the lawnmower and other garden implements the tyres are flat, gears/brakes broken so they look for an alternative and decide cycling is a hassle..

My wife has recently taken up functional cycling around the area for shopping, meeting friends ect and a major factor (in her opinion) that got her going was that she knew when she opened the shed door the bike was there, tyres pumped, working lights, lock and key at the ready.

We have to make it easy for them...

daragh_

Lot's of kids in our primary cycle to school or come strapped on to bikes of some description.

I generally walk (well I cycle they walk) my two youngest girls to school. We are less than 10 minutes away and on good days they might hop on the bikes. They do a lot of after-school stuff, not always at the school so it isn't always practical to take the bikes.

My eldest (14) got a bike to cycle to school (roughly a 20 minute walk) but she's a fair weather cyclist. The bike is used for school runs and going to visit her pals when it gets warm. Any sniff of rain and she'll walk.

My middle gal (10) has a road bike and is interested in the sport. She's been to Corkagh Park with me a few times and I can see her having a go when she gets a bit bigger and I feel comfortable taking her out on the road. I encourage her interest but am treading carefully as I know how these things go. Has to be her decision :rolleyes:

ThisRegard

I think it's a combination of things. Sadly, (more so applies to secondary level) theft and vandalism might be an issue due to the lack, or poor, lock up facilities. You'll see a load of parents walk home from dropping their kids off carrying or pushing the bikes back with them. Back in the 80s I rarely cycled to school for fear my bike either wouldn't be there when I came out, or was bent in half. I'd have the same fear now.

The other is a bit of a catch 22. There's 4 primary schools within walking distance of my house. I see a few kids who live around me cycle or scoot in, and they can take a short cut through the park into the school grounds so have a safe enough journey. But once you get anywhere near the school from the other direction it's mayhem, cars parked all over the place, including the off road cycle lanes. So the presence of all these cars would have a negative affect on parents bringing their kids on bikes.

I've often wondered why the schools aren't more proactive in fighting against this, but in fairness a large part of this is due to the laziness of the parents themselves.

Seaswimmer

Macy0161 wrote: »

I walked my chaps to school yesterday, both in national school. I carried their bags, as even at 1st and 2nd class and they were heavy enough. If I was cycle commuting with that weight every day, they'd be going on a rack not the back tbh. I've asked this before, I'm not sure there are pannier rack options (that'd take the weight) for children's bikes? You'd be looking at seat post options, which I don't think would take the weight.

Both walking them to school, and when I was walking to collect them, I had a close pass each way (i.e. 2 out of 4 trips) on the rural, on road section. I have to say, I'm not sure I'd be entirely comfortable even with me beside them, given the attitude/ ignorance of some motorists to giving enough space to cyclists or pedestrians.

When I was going to school we usually walked or cycled with our bags. As the bags got heavier we got older and stronger in parallel so by senior cycle we were carrying weights which would shock modern kids.
Nowdays if they have to carry anything it comes as a complete shock because they were never used to it..

tunney

fat bloke wrote: »

We all know cycling has undergone a massive change in terms of popularity of late. Leisure cycling on the increase, races over subscribed, lads selling their Grannies for ROK tickets etc etc. . But is it demographically doomed to declination?
I work in a primary school in suburban South Dublin. About 250 kids I reckon. -5 bikes. That's about how many cycle. I also live near the largest primary school in the country - Colmcille's junior and senior which between them must have nearly 2500 children. Ok, granted, the infants classes aren't really going to cycle (though there is an junior infant comes to our school on a balance bike fair play to her!), but you could be forgiven for thinking the morning traffic must be thronged with kids on bikes cycling to school.

- Nope. Not at all.

Plenty of them walk it has to be said. This is not a anti-car rant, or an anti-anything rant really. I just wonder why more don't cycle. There's a lad I pass every evening walking home and I can't understand why he's not on a bike - turn his 15 minute walk into a 5 minute cycle. I also wonder - if these children don't grow up using a bike to get around, will they ever do so? Will they wait til they're 40 and paunchy and their own kids are out of nappies and then go out and join a club, join cycling Ireland and buy a road bike? A lot of people are doing today, but I was under the general impression that they were folks who had cycled as kids and were only coming back to a sport or activity in which they had previously participated.

The other thing is I guess, no more than Brazilian tiki-taka football skills, if you don't learn your bike handling skills cycling around your back garden or front yard when you're young, they're never quite going to take when you're older.

I guess the people who frequent this forum are more likely to have their kids on bikes, but the empty (or worse - non-existent) bike racks in front of our schools makes me wonder for the future of our current cycling boom.

Why don't more cycle? Because mornings are rushed, kids must get to schools or breakfast clubs before people get to work. Two working parents is not a good thing and regardless of what people tell themselves isn't ideal for the kids. (and people don't HAVE to both work, just like they don't HAVE to have the fanciest bikes/handbags/clothes/holidays)

07Lapierre

Seaswimmer wrote: »

When I was going to school we usually walked or cycled with our bags. As the bags got heavier we got older and stronger in parallel so by senior cycle we were carrying weights which would shock modern kids.
Nowdays if they have to carry anything it comes as a complete shock because they were never used to it..

I never carried a bag to school, I had one of these....

http://www.tandem-bicycle-central.com/images/backrack.jpg

fat bloke

Just to add my own experience, I cycle to school most days (bit of driving on the sh1tty days over the winter, but it's bikes every day this weather), with my two girls (10 and 12). They'd rather drive always given the choice and they very very rarely take their bikes out unprompted, but cycling to school gives us all an extra half hour in bed!

As regards the safety of the route - it's very odd how the haphazard and piecemeal the cycling infrastructure is. For half the route the cycle path is over the other side of the road only. Of course if you're on the cycle path you are lowest priority and have to yield to everything - every driveway, every junction. I cycle on them primarily on the road except for one section where the traffic backs up, so rather than filtering up the left hand side sucking on diesel fumes, I take them up on the path.

Motorists are cognisant enough I find when it's kids. Much more so than they would be to me on my own on a road bike. I suppose I'm very obviously a Daddy shepherding offspring and people realise that.

Seaswimmer

tunney wrote: »

Why don't more cycle? Because mornings are rushed, kids must get to schools or breakfast clubs before people get to work. Two working parents is not a good thing and regardless of what people tell themselves isn't ideal for the kids. (and people don't HAVE to both work, just like they don't HAVE to have the fanciest bikes/handbags/clothes/holidays)

Heretic..

smacl

Macy0161 wrote: »

You'd be looking at seat post options, which I don't think would take the weight.

Looking at getting an Islabike with rack and panniers for the 12 year old. Not a cheap option, but a worthwhile investment IMO. We rebuilt an old raleigh for her a couple of years ago, which was great fun as a project but the bike ended up being too heavy for her and didn't get much use. I reckon a Beinn 26" should prove to be a very functional commuter for her, given her route will be a bit hilly. I'll probably also have a look for local alternatives and see how they stack up.

Seaswimmer

07Lapierre wrote: »

I never carried a bag to school, I had one of these....

http://www.tandem-bicycle-central.com/images/backrack.jpg

that's posh.

Most of us had the old style school bag with 2 buckles that you could close over the crossbar. Something like the picture but not real leather.

Chips Lovell

I think its getting better in the past few years. I did a few sportives during the summer and the one thing that struck me was the number of kids doing them. You'd never see a kid four or five years ago.

See a lot more kids cycling to school around my area too. Still quite low, but at least it seems to be on the increase.

07Lapierre

Seaswimmer wrote: »

that's posh.

Most of us had the old style school bag with 2 buckles that you could close over the crossbar. Something like the picture but not real leather.

A carrier was Posh???? no way...everyone had one.

07Lapierre

Actually...this is the type of "carrier" I had on my bike when I was a kid...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Italian_Bicycles/Chiorda_Bicycles/Chiorda_Mixte_Yellow_2/Chiorda_Build/Chiorda_Build_Luggage_Rack_1.jpg

Macy0161

Seaswimmer wrote: »

When I was going to school we usually walked or cycled with our bags. As the bags got heavier we got older and stronger in parallel so by senior cycle we were carrying weights which would shock modern kids.
Nowdays if they have to carry anything it comes as a complete shock because they were never used to it..

They carry it normally - they are normally brought in the car, but not dropped at the school gate and are normally parked at the end of the village and walked up carrying their own bags. It was purely because I was making them walk from home!

I'm not going to get on their back(?) too much - I've a rack and bags for my commuter, bit hypocritical to expect them to put it on their back.

I'd love to get them Islabikes - but even if we could afford them, I'm not sure I'd trust leaving them, and despite the age difference they're the same height so it's two at a time!

smacl

07Lapierre wrote: »

Actually...this is the type of "carrier" I had on my bike when I was a kid...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Italian_Bicycles/Chiorda_Bicycles/Chiorda_Mixte_Yellow_2/Chiorda_Build/Chiorda_Build_Luggage_Rack_1.jpg

Essential piece of kit for giving your mates backers going down steeper hills.

07Lapierre

Actually I think Bike theft at schools is a big deterrent to kids cycling. Even when I was going to school, bikes stolen from the school was not uncommon. Even now when I cycle to work, my bike is indoors behind Two security doors. there's no way I'd leave it locked outside

daragh_

tunney wrote: »

and people don't HAVE to both work

That's great news. Will you ring my bank manager etc and tell them? :rolleyes:

Tenzor07

Seaswimmer wrote: »

One of the other main factors reducing cycling numbers in kids/teenagers is that often there is no functioning bike easily available to them.

Hang on a second, back in the day if a bike had 2 tyres a chain and a saddle and little else it was used!
Doesn't have to have disc brakes and electronic gear shifting and be sitting outside the door waiting on a kid does it?

rflynnr

This is how me and the two kids go to work/school everyday.
There's no puzzle to it: the school is slightly too far away to walk, we only have one car (which my wife uses on weekdays) and although, in theory, there's a bus service it proved too unreliable for routine use. The kids understand that the bike is the best option in terms of time, reliability and flexibility so even when the weather's inclement they - sometimes somewhat grudgingly I'll admit - kit up and clamber on. When they start at secondary school, they will cycle the 5km route for precisely the same reasons: there is no better alternative.

I have considered encouraging them to cycle on their own bikes up to school but for a variety of logistical reasons (mainly, a complicated set of post-school childcare arrangements) it is easier not to. I would be reluctant to consider allowing them to cycle
alone to and from school because the only viable routes are traffic heavy although I recognise this is probably over-protective and not necessarily based on any rational assessment of the risks (but, hey, these are my kids).

(I should add - the bike in the pic isn't literally mine but is - bar the colour - identical.)

jimmycrackcorm

My wife was nervous about our mini-me cycling to school in primary, but he does every day now in secondary.

Seaswimmer

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Hang on a second, back in the day if a bike had 2 tyres a chain and a saddle and little else it was used!
Doesn't have to have disc brakes and electronic gear shifting and be sitting outside the door waiting on a kid does it?

Ah yes but back in the day you had little or no choice. It was either cycle, walk, bus or not go anywhere. The family car was used for the weekly shop and a drive on Sundays. I don't think I ever got a lift anywhere in all the years I lived at home.

But human nature dictates that if something is hard or involves a bit of effort then we seek an easier alternative. So it if it means that kids will cycle instead of looking for a lift then by all means have it sitting outside the door waiting for them (or somewhere equally accessible)

fat bloke

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Hang on a second, back in the day if a bike had 2 tyres a chain and a saddle and little else it was used!
Doesn't have to have disc brakes and electronic gear shifting and be sitting outside the door waiting on a kid does it?

I don't think that's what was meant in fairness. The unkempt unserviced pieces of cr@p I see some people pedaling would bring tears to your eyes. Tyres almost flat and crusty brown chains from being left out in gardens for eons.

Jawgap

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

My 14 year old daughter wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a bike or near me when I'm in Lycra!

My kid once asked me not to go out for my Sunday cycle as his mates were sleeping over and he didn't want them seeing me in lycra!

On another occasion, I asked both of them if they wanted road bikes Christmas - response was "No, they're gay!" (as opposed to 'ledge' which apparently means good).

My kids newly opened school has about 600 pupils, a full size soccer / multi-sports pitch, and a gym but only 8 bicycle racks - I mentioned this to the principle at the school's opening and she explained there was simply no demand for more.....

......saying that, my two have mountain bikes (they're not 'gay' apparently) and use them all the time (just not to or from school) and regularly implore me to take them to different forests / trails - they're just not into road bikes.

Also, the eldest when he started college went and bought a beater for knocking around on.

Tenzor07

fat bloke wrote: »

I don't think that's what was meant in fairness. The unkempt unserviced pieces of cr@p I see some people pedaling would bring tears to your eyes. Tyres almost flat and crusty brown chains from being left out in gardens for eons.

Sounds like what I used to cycle to school...

Fian

My 12 year old cycles to his national school on his bike most days, barring icy/gale conditions.

Unfortunately my three older kids, who all used to cycle to national school, tend to get the Luas to secondary schools. All are within cycling distance but the Luas is probably slightly more convenient for them. Especially considering that they don't want to be sweating in their school uniform as they arrive.

C'est la vie, I would prefer if they cycled more tbh, especially since my two older boys have better bikes to "commute" than the one I use. I don't appropriate those because they do use their bikes after school to call round to friends houses etc.

But I don't want to impose my preferences on them, if they prefer to get the Luas so be it.

smacl

Macy0161 wrote: »

I'd love to get them Islabikes - but even if we could afford them, I'm not sure I'd trust leaving them, and despite the age difference they're the same height so it's two at a time!

If I end up getting an Islabike with accessories for the youngest, I'd probably ensure it. Looking at the cycling insurance thread I estimate this will be ~€50 per annum. Once you start multiplying stuff by two, it certainly gets expensive.

ted1

rflynnr wrote: »

This is how me and the two kids go to work/school everyday.


(I should add - the bike in the pic isn't literally mine but is - bar the colour - identical.)

What's it like to cycle when your on your own?

tunney

daragh_ wrote: »

That's great news. Will you ring my bank manager etc and tell them? :rolleyes:

Could do without somethings.... :rolleyes:

Wishbone Ash

07Lapierre wrote: »

Actually...this is the type of "carrier" I had on my bike when I was a kid...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Italian_Bicycles/Chiorda_Bicycles/Chiorda_Mixte_Yellow_2/Chiorda_Build/Chiorda_Build_Luggage_Rack_1.jpg

Some had a very strong spring mechanism - not ideal when you were sent out to get a fresh sliced pan!

NamelessPhil

My six year old cycles to school. When we started in Junior Infants she was the only one but there are now two others (mostly fair weather cyclists) in her class. Some days last year hers was the only bike in the bike rack but now some of the staff cycle too. It's a slow process but doable. Sometimes all it takes is setting the example that you're not automatically going to be knocked down and that cycling is a viable option.

We had an Islabike Cnoc 14 in J.I. (needs to be sold on, open to offers) and bought a Frog for her next bike. It's just as good as the Islabike. It's fitted with mudguards and a pannier rack (racktime) that will hold up to 30kg, suitable for backies for her mates! We also kit it out with removable lights for the winter months. Joe Daly Cycles in Dundrum were very helpful with kitting out the bike.

Fadó Fadó when the world was young, my schoolbag was pretty heavy and I managed fine with it strapped to my pannier rack.

I am envious of rflynnr's triplet!

07Lapierre

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Some had a very strong spring mechanism - not ideal when you were sent out to get a fresh sliced pan!

I never used it. it wasn't very secure anyway. Did you not have these?

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/23/23ff4267-1261-46aa-86c0-4317dce8e1b2_400.jpg

tomasrojo

NamelessPhil wrote: »

Sometimes all it takes is setting the example that you're not automatically going to be knocked down and that cycling is a viable option.

Yes, I think a few people of my acquaintance have started cycling because I haven't been hurt in any serious way after decades of everyday cycling.

I walk to school with the kids, which is a 7km round trip. I really have to get on with teaching them to cycle. Have to fix up the rather poor-quality bikes in the shed that a neighbour donated, just to get them started. But they keep me so busy I have no time to fix the bikes. The little swine are ruining their own futures.

smacl

tomasrojo wrote: »

Have to fix up the rather poor-quality bikes in the shed that a neighbour donated, just to get them started. But they keep me so busy I have no time to fix the bikes.

Makes for a fun project to do with them, and I found with my youngest doing up her own bike got her much more interested in cycling it. Little things like customised name transfers are cheap enough and add that bit of bling.

rflynnr

ted1 wrote: »

What's it like to cycle when your on your own?

Grand. I bring it home by myself every evening and it doesn't feel dramatically different than my hybrid.

Wishbone Ash

07Lapierre wrote: »

I never used it. it wasn't very secure anyway. Did you not have these?

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/23/23ff4267-1261-46aa-86c0-4317dce8e1b2_400.jpg

Far from fancy stuff like that, I was reared!

JK.BMC

I've seen a definite upsurge in bikes ridden to my school- large boys secondary and unlike 10 years ago when there was close to zero, the number is about 40-50, even in cold or wet weather, like lately. Times and trends naturally move on but something I do notice is a general decline in knowledge and appreciation regarding bike repair and maintenance. Parents appear to buy plenty of expensive bikes/bike to work scheme etc, but it is near-criminal to see these bikes in the yard with rusty chains, malfunctioning brakes and broken components and bald tyres, while young Johnny wouldnt know a tyre lever from a toothbrush. It is this lack of appreciation and consumerist philosophy that I feel is a greater concern. Kids will always ride bikes of some sort

Lemming

Jawgap wrote: »

On another occasion, I asked both of them if they wanted road bikes Christmas - response was "No, they're gay!" (as opposed to 'ledge' which apparently means good).

... snip ...

......saying that, my two have mountain bikes (they're not 'gay' apparently) and use them all the time (just not to or from school) and regularly implore me to take them to different forests / trails - they're just not into road bikes.

Sounds like they've got their priorities straight

On a more serious note, few seemed to cycle to primary school as far as I can remember, even the kids that were more local than I (so back in the 1980s), but a lot of - mostly boys - did cycle to secondary school; myself included. Even the neighbouring/rival secondary schools, both mixed and single-sex seemed to have a lot of students cycle. This would be in and around the Dundrum/Ballinteer/Balally area of Dublin so whilst some bits would have been - and still are - heavy with traffic in the mornings, there are lots of estates to cut through with quieter roads. Neither my parents, nor those of my friends seemed to express any great concern about us cycling either - with or without helmets. Come to think of it I struggle to think of many kids that did wear helmets for a school-run.

worded

Domane wrote: »

All my kids have bikes but rarely use them, much to my annoyance. They'll sit for hours playing Call of Duty or on their tablets when I'm in work even if the sun is shining outside. Jeez when I was a kid, I was never in, even if it was pissing rain outside. I'm still the same, rather be outside no matter the weather. However the current young generation are a bunch of couch potatoes, afraid to go outside for fear of getting hurt. It's not that I'm an overly protective parent, in fact I encourage my kids to run, cycle, climb trees etc. However they're taught all about personal safety in school that I think it makes the paranoid and afraid to take risks, no matter how small. My kids school has over 700 pupils but I've never seen any of them cycle to school. All dropped off by mommy or daddy at the school gate. Have to agree with the OP, what's the future of cycling if kids aren't taking to two wheels now? Will they start cycling when they're 40 with stabilisers on their road bikes?

With helmets I hope ! I never wore any and in my youth .....

Ive supermaned over car doors suddenly opened by stupid passengers

Had the front mud guard fold into the front wheel and fly into the air cut in 18 places

I thought that was all part of growing up

My young kid said while cycling ....

I love how free a feeling it is cycling ..... Loves the new Raleigh bike I got for birthday

shedweller

flatface wrote: »

“There has probably never been a generation since the Paleolithic that did not deplore the fecklessness of the next and worship a golden memory of the past”

Only kids today are seriously lazy and are certainly looking at a shortened lifespan because of the current screen addiction. I have three kids and battle daily with them on this. I have the screentime app on their tablets and still one of them tries to go next door where there is unlimited screen time (future physiyst maybe???). Constant rows and shouting ensues. I swear its like dealing with a junkie.
Forgive me for thinking the future is grim.
And i dare anyone to tell me that spending ALL day on yer tablet is going to result in a long and healthy life. Because what i'm seeing as a parent right now is kids everywhere turning pudgy while they text each other or whatever means of communication is fashionable right now.
But i'll tell yis this; any white collar parent i meet has the same feelings as i do about the current "screen" epidemic and that is to say that its not at all good for society.
I currently shout at my co-employees during break when they drift of into their little screen world. I just stand up abruptly and storm off shouting "yis feckin screen zombies are boring bastids"
Gets a few strange looks.....aaaand back to their screens. Fackin vegetables.

NamelessPhil

Just as a reminder, it's Census time this year and last time out there was a question about journeys travelled and mode of transport while commuting. I'll certainly be filling out the cycling component of that question.

tomasrojo

Lemming wrote: »

t a lot of - mostly boys - did cycle to secondary school; myself included. Even the neighbouring/rival secondary schools, both mixed and single-sex seemed to have a lot of students cycle. This would be in and around the Dundrum/Ballinteer/Balally area of Dublin so whilst some bits would have been - and still are - heavy with traffic in the mornings, there are lots of estates to cut through with quieter roads.

I walk that way on school morning, along the quieter roads through the estates. Plenty of kids cycling; much more so than in other areas I've lived. Very gratifying to see, but it also shows what a big difference it makes when estates are permeable to bikes and pedestrians, but not to cars.