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Children
& Teens : young cyclists ages 9-12
 At
what age is it safe for children to begin to bicycle outside quiet
neighborhood streets and ride on the street instead of the sidewalk?
Experts differ slightly on this issue. While there is no "magic
age" that determines when it is safe to ride on arterial roads,
children in the 9-12 year-old age group likely have developed the
cognitive skills that allow them to bicycle on the road.
"Younger kids [under the age of 9 or 10] generally do not judge
closing speeds well," explains Preston Tyree, education director
of the Texas Bicycle Coalition in Austin.
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learn
about important safety information. more |
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learn
the fundamentals of good bicycling. more |
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view
an extensive list of resources on the web. more |
Cautions
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Children who are first learning to bicycle, no matter how
old they are, should cycle with an adult until they
attain the confidence and skills to ride on their own. |
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Good route selection should always be emphasized. Using mandated
bike lanes, bike routes, and streets with less traffic is
recommended. |
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Even when cycling on the street or block where you live, the
9-12 year old cyclist must exercise the same degree of caution
and defensive cycling that they do on larger roads. |
Tools and
Skills
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When teaching 9-12 year-old cyclists, focus both what they
need to know and also what they want to know about cycling.
Spark their interest by asking what they would like to know
about cycling. Teach them to seek out cycling knowledge by
searching the Web, visiting the library, asking at a bike
shop or community recreation center about cycling clubs and
rides in their area. |
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Emphasize that it's important to ride with traffic- in fact,
it's illegal to ride against it. |
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Teach the 9-12 year-old cyclist to hone advanced riding skills,
such as selecting gears, learning how to ride in groups, how
to follow another cyclist at a safe distance. Visit the League
of American Bicyclists website for more on:
group
riding
shifting
& gears |
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Teach 9-12's about lane positioning: how to look behind you
before changing your position or lane, how to deal with right
turn lanes when cycling straight, what to do when the lane
is narrow and cars are parked in your way, and how to alert
others in traffic to your intended moves. |
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Teach this age group more about their bicycle and its accessories.
Emphasize the importance of getting to know your bike. Teach
how glasses and gloves can help you; introduce them to the
option of special bicycle clothing; and explain how to maintain
good hygiene even after a tough ride. |
Links
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