Cycling with a child involves demonstrating safe practices, controlling their speed, and watching them closely enough to keep them safe. It’s a lot of work, and you need to literally and figuratively be in the best position to multitask effectively. Choosing that position brings a common puzzle – do you cycle in front of the child, beside, or behind them?
The best position for cycling with a child is to stay behind them. Different positions have their benefits, but it is vital for you to be able to watch the child ahead and see everything that’s going on around and in front of them.
Keep reading to find out in-depth information on the advantages of staying in different positions while cycling with a child. I’ll also share some valuable tips to keep in mind when cycling with your little one.
Pros Of Cycling in Front of the Child
The major benefit of cycling in front of the child is that you get the opportunity to set the pace since your speed determines theirs. Leading by example is also a great way to teach a child crucial safety guidelines and cycling techniques.
If you haven’t decided on your route, or if it’s a fairly complicated path, being in front allows you to control the path your child follows as well as the pace.
Cons of Cycling in Front of Your Child
There are a couple of downsides to cycling in front of your child. While they can easily observe and follow you, you can’t get to see them easily.
To monitor them, you have to keep turning back at intervals while riding. Although you can stay safe while turning back during your ride if you do it right, there’s still a significant safety risk from having to turn multiple times while cycling.
Also, your concentration could be divided while you’re worried about your child’s safety because you can’t watch them continuously.
While riding ahead of your child, you could end up cycling too fast and consequently wear them out or even worse, leave them behind.
On the other hand, if you settle with a pace that’s too slow, your child might end up bored and frustrated, which can create a negative cycling experience. This explains why some people prefer allowing their children to cycle ahead.
Pros of Cycling Behind Your Child
If you cycle behind your child, you have the advantage of seeing what they’re doing.
Instead of trying to improve your child’s cycling by having them watch and learn from you directly, you can watch them instead. This way, you can improve their cycling skills by offering advice and correction when necessary.
Even if you don’t get to chart the course, letting the child go ahead can help them become more independent and accustomed to cycling independently. This confidence boost is crucial for learning safe cycling techniques and setting a comfortable pace for themselves.
Independence also trains them to make the right decisions when on the go.
If you’re not riding on a bike path, cycling around a curb with oncoming cars can be particularly tricky. When riding behind your child, you can make your child safer by riding further out and forcing the drivers to offer them more free space at blind curves.
Children can easily get spooked by car horns while cycling or just by having vehicles pass beside them. Keeping the cars further away can help them get less nervous and cycle more confidently.
Cons of Cycling Behind Your Child
In this position, it’s difficult for your child to see you and observe your cycling. A timid early cycler could easily get spooked by this, especially if you don’t call out instructions and they start to feel alone.
Giving instructions on a loud, busy road where you’re forced to yell can be quite difficult. Your instructions should come across as clear and calm, so your child doesn’t panic, especially when cycling in busy areas.
Pros of Cycling Beside Your Child
Riding beside a child isn’t a very popular position, but it’s perfectly legal, and there are cases where it could come in handy.
When cycling on a side road, you need to make sure you’re both very visible to the oncoming cars. It’s generally easier to spot two cyclers than one, so riding beside the child could help both of you increase your visibility to the other vehicles plying the road.
If you’re cycling on a residential street, riding beside your child could be helpful at intersections. You can speed up to reach the corners first and ensure it’s safe to come around. It helps build a safety culture and reminds them to carefully check the roads in both directions when they start riding independently.
Cons of Cycling Besides Your Child
It’s not very common for cyclists to ride side-by-side, so most drivers on the road might not be expecting it.
Instead of being more visible, you could end up startling them and dealing with long, questioning honks of many car horns. Also, on a narrow road, riding astride could be an inconvenient arrangement.
Tips for Effectively Cycling With a Child
Build Their Traffic-Awareness
According to Victoria Hazel of Cycling UK, children should become independently aware of traffic by 8-10 years of age.
To build your child’s proficiency in handling traffic on their own, you have to watch out while cycling with them. Ensure that they’re riding safely and obeying traffic rules to build their skills for roadworthy cycling.
Teach Them To Communicate
As the more experienced cyclist, you should call out calm, clear instructions while riding with your child and watch how well they respond.
Communication has to go both ways, meaning your child should also communicate by signaling and notifying you about their next moves, especially when cycling on busy roads.
Maintaining Distance
When riding behind your child, you should stay about one bike’s length to half a bike’s length behind them.
You should maintain a point within this distance close enough that they can hear your voice when you give instructions. Also, you have to be far enough to avoid running into their bike if they brake suddenly.
Conclusion
Whether you let your child cycle in front, beside, or behind you, ensure that you teach them bike safety tips by demonstration and instruction.
Help them follow basic guidelines like avoiding weaving and wobbling while ensuring that they stay at a safe distance from obstacles and gutters.
