Five good reasons for your kids to bike it

Five good reasons for your kids to bike it

By Robert Ibell, Cycle Advocates Network

Not only did the sun always shine when we were young, but we seemed to ride our bikes everywhere. It probably wasn’t coincidence that there were far fewer overweight youngsters around. But times have changed, and now a third of New Zealanders get insufficient exercise. Child obesity rates have tripled over the last decade and some even suggest that inactive lifestyles and bad diets mean we may outlive our children.

It’s astounding then, that so few of us encourage our kids to ride bikes. If your child is of sound body and mind they have nothing to lose (except weight) and everything to gain from hopping on a bike. Here are five good reasons why you might want to consider modifying the personal chauffer service you currently provide.

Reason one: Biking builds body and character. In the good old days, mum or dad wouldn’t even consider driving us to school unless we had woken up with a broken leg. It wasn’t always pleasant, but our complaints about hills and headwinds usually fell on deaf ears. So we got on with it, and it kept us fit.

If we went for a swim, to the movies, or to have a hit in the cricket nets, we took our bikes. If we wanted to stay longer or move on somewhere else, that’s what we did. Cycling provided a healthy measure of independence.

Reason two: Cycling is good for the mind. We learnt better because we were fit and active. Biking to school got the blood pumping through our body and brain, washing away tiredness and toxins. We arrived better able to concentrate, and more ready for learning (well, mostly). And because we’d been able to chat to our mates on the way to school, we were less likely to want to do so during maths.

Reason three: Cycling is good for the future. Youngsters who are encouraged to ride and be active now are less likely to become car potatoes in the future, and less likely to allow it to happen to their kids (your grandkids!). And then there’s the saving the planet thing. According to Canadian research, eliminating just four 1km trips per week would save 100 kg of planet warming carbon dioxide each year. The simple truth is we have got to become less reliant on cars, and those short trips to drop the kids off should be the first to go.

Reason four: Biking kids save you time. By the time you’ve got them all in the car, waited at the lights and driven around the block twice looking for a park, they could have biked there and back. And your car will stay so much cleaner inside!

Reason five: Cycling is safer than you might think. While there are always risks when kids are out and about by themselves, more are injured in cars than on bikes. But the biggest killer of all is an inactive lifestyle. Kids who’ve reached the age of ten or so generally have the cognitive and judgement skills needed for safe, unaccompanied cycling, but there are things you can do to make sure.

Look for a copy of the old LTSA’s booklet Safe Cycling at your child’s school, or the local library. Borrow the book and talk to your kids about it. You coud also try websites such as www.skidlidkids.co.nz/. Quiz them on their understanding of road rules, and go for a ride with them somewhere safe to put the concepts into practice and your mind at ease. Work out the best route to school on a map (one that avoids busy intersections or having to turn right across traffic) and go with them the first few times.

Lots of schools are now organising cycle trains where parents and volunteers escort kids to school in cycling groups. Contact your school and see if there’s something already in place. You may even decide to volunteer yourself. You’ll enjoy the time spent with your children and their friends, and it won’t do your waistline any harm either!

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