whats a good age to let your son ride his bike around town?

Question

about a 7 mile area to go see his friends and go to the parks alone.

Answer 1

This depends on several factors
1)How big is the town?
2)What type of town is it?
3)How well do you know your son and his friends?
4)Is your son trustworthy?
5)Is your son responsible?

If it is an incredibly small town, aka so small that everyone literally knows everyone, there is one main street, and the small grocery store is the meeting place of gossip level small, then I think as soon as he is old enough to be responsible for wearing a helmet, not trying anything dangerous where there may be cars, like 8 years old or so. This is only the case if traffic is decent and you can trust both him and his friends and your neighbors. If you have any concerns about his safety invest in some long range walkie-talkies.

If it is a moderately small town, aka local transit bus drivers know regular passengers by name and will have conversations, you know 1/3 to 1/2 your neighbors, and it is you have a local farmer's market, sort of place, I'd say that a 7 mile area is a bit extensive if it is not a straight line. The concern I would have is that by the time he is old enough to be completely safe by himself over an extended distance without supervision in this setting (probably 11-12 years of age) he will be getting into a stage where kids often go down the wrong path and lack of supervision and knowing where your kids are contributes to drug addiction, vandalism, shoplifting and other teen pranks. In a small town such things often arise from boredom. In which case unless you really REALLY know your kids I'd say 16 is probably a good age.

If you live in a town described like number one and it is right next to one like number two then it's probably fine the distance is just because he is inconveniently far from his friends so 11-12 may be sufficient. I would consider one of those kid cell phones that can be programed with 4 numbers, that way you can call if you need anything or to check in with him.

If you know your kid and your neighborhood and your kid's friends and you trust all of the three to be wise, intelligent, responsible and trustworthy then you should be fine as soon as he is old enough to be intelligent in traffic.

If you doubt any of the three then you should use extreme caution. 16 is a pretty safe bet because if by that point they want to use drugs and cause chaos, they are already going to find a way and them running around without supervision is not going to change that.13-16 is a good transition range where you've still got some accountability.11-12 is a good time to build the relationship so that they don't want to do something that will disappoint you.

Answer 2

It somewhat depends on the town and how busy the roads are. I am OLD and I will not attempt to ride my bike on some of the busy streets. It is just way too dangerous. When I was a kid, we lived in a small town. I rode my bike all over town at age 8, even down to the lake 5 miles away. Rode my bike to school in good weather too.

Answer 3

Whatever age you feel safe about. If you live in a safe neighborhood go ahead and let him. I would say 10 or close to 10 is a good age. First explain to the child about strangers and if anyone comes up to him trying to talk to him say ask him for directions or say they need his help with something like they lost a puppy, that he needs to run away. Run to a nearby house, preferably a house where he knows the people. Or have him carry a cell phone so he can call 911 if he needs to. Remind him that NO adult needs help from a child! Cause some adults who want to abduct kids pretend they need help doing something or finding something like a puppy. Or have your child ride around town with friends and not alone, power in numbers. I used to ride around my town where ever i wanted all alone since i was able to ride say 9 or so.

Answer 4

I let my three kids ride there bikes around town and they are 4, 6, and 7. But they all have cell phones so if any thang happens they call me. Mostly they stay together though. But make sure they are home by eight thirty. If there is a kidnapper on the lose and is most likely in your neighborhood don't let them. Just keep them in fron tof the house. This is what me and there step dad do anyway.

Answer 5

7 miles is a long bike ride. I would shorten in to just a few miles and maybe when he's 13 or 14

Answer 6

16 years

Answer 7

I would say not until he is between 14-16 years of age. I think this world is too scary to let kids go out alone anywhere anymore. Drive him to a friends or invite the friends to your house don't let him go alone. I guess I am just pretty leary of other people when it comes to my precious children.

Answer 8

my dad let me do it at 14, went to the libairy and 4-H club and every where i needed to go. i am 16 now and i still ride bikes more than i ride in cars.

Answer 9

14 to 16..

Answer 10

I would say ten because he's old enough to know what to d if somthing were to happen on the way there or while he's out riding. But to be home before dark.