tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post6381284693979523824..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Do the British love their children too ?David Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-86999388661746733182009-03-28T16:07:00.000+01:002009-03-28T16:07:00.000+01:00Simon, Philip,I've also found our children would c...Simon, Philip,<BR/><BR/>I've also found our children would cycle quite a long way when young so long as there was sufficient interest in it for them. For instance, one daughter did a 45 km round trip in a day when she was six. The destination was a fair, and there were nice playgrounds on the outbound and return journeys. We didn't hurry, of course, and keep in mind that every child is differentDavid Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-73817731617853150982009-03-27T01:53:00.000+01:002009-03-27T01:53:00.000+01:00Thanks Simon, this is very interesting. We are go...Thanks Simon, this is very interesting. We are going "training" at the weekend. My 13 year old did a 30 km (she claims) mountain trek in Chiang Mai recently. The organisers of the excusrsion (in Phuket) say that it is not suitable for under 12s, but I think this may be Thais being ultra cautious. I will see how she goes with distances and some off road tracks. Incidentally, interested in Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11677820905795741184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-46756729311252895262009-03-26T08:19:00.000+01:002009-03-26T08:19:00.000+01:00Hi Phillip,Generally, children can cycle as far as...Hi Phillip,<BR/><BR/>Generally, children can cycle as far as you can (albeit they'll take longer) as long as you can keep them happy. If they get bored they get tired, if they're uncomfortable (eg wet,cold,hungry,thirsty etc) they get tired - otherwise they are amazing machines of perpetual motion.The Speaking Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415671204320976076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-47423033962316585092009-03-25T13:05:00.000+01:002009-03-25T13:05:00.000+01:00My comment has less to do with road safety than my...My comment has less to do with road safety than my 10 year old daughter's strength. We are planning a holiday and she ccommented this morning that she would like to go cycling. What is a safe distance for a fairly fit 10 year old to cycle ? We are looking at a guided tour - gentle hills, quiet roads and a few tracks with lots of stopping to admire the views. The tour is 15km to 20 km and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-81101866903581878482009-02-20T11:39:00.000+01:002009-02-20T11:39:00.000+01:00Thanks for that Simon. Another survey showing fair...Thanks for that Simon. Another survey showing fairly similar results. Despite the vagueness of asking people's opinions in these surveys the results are quite consistent.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85068842815796368612009-02-20T11:09:00.000+01:002009-02-20T11:09:00.000+01:00Great post. Have you seen this?http://www.nationa...Great post. Have you seen this?<BR/>http://www.nationalaccountsofwellbeing.org/public-data/files/national-accounts-of-well-being-report.pdfThe Speaking Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415671204320976076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-64422926036721125572009-02-20T01:02:00.000+01:002009-02-20T01:02:00.000+01:00In Ireland most Children are Driven to School eith...In Ireland most Children are Driven to School either by Cars and 4+4's or Buses,while they Live only up to 3 Kilometre away and could easily Walk or Cycle. A few Chldren do actually Cycle or Walk but these are not many.<BR/><BR/>Our Cycle Lanes are very Narrow like the UK,so not very Safe for Adults dont mind Children.l' homme au velohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964877237998191937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-49290404971122132792009-02-18T18:19:00.000+01:002009-02-18T18:19:00.000+01:00When children are killed on the road, there's norm...When children are killed on the road, there's normally enough of an outcry to get speed cameras and other speed-limiting measures put in - which are not cheap. Perhaps if that energy went into campaigning for separated bike and pedestrian paths instead, not only might we get a decent joined up network but the motorists would be happy too as the only thing they seem to loathe more than cyclists Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-17086427134803662892009-02-18T17:39:00.000+01:002009-02-18T17:39:00.000+01:00Abhishek, I'm not sure it's exactly the same, but ...Abhishek, I'm not sure it's exactly the same, but it is certainly closely related.<BR/><BR/>There are some very odd responses to the post you provided the link to. Someone argues that as 60% of head injuries in the US are in car crashes and 3% from bike crashes as if this makes cycling sound safe. However, it's just a ratio of 20:1, while the ratio of journeys by car vs. bike in the US is at a David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-53614399866744678132009-02-18T14:12:00.000+01:002009-02-18T14:12:00.000+01:00There is an interesting article on Commute by Bike...There is an interesting article on Commute by Bike about the same issue: http://commutebybike.com/2009/02/18/ex-husband-prohibits-children-bike-riding/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-10404547274119420772009-02-18T08:46:00.000+01:002009-02-18T08:46:00.000+01:00Kevin: I think it's officially government policy a...Kevin: I think it's officially government policy almost everywhere, including the UK. However, it needs to move past the level of initiatives etc. and be reflected in reality. Sadly, Canada isn't doing all that much better than the UK.<BR/><BR/>Adrienne: Thanks for the link (which is to a school publication using the slogan "go green" while simultaneously banning cycling to school). Get them to David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-19325179477756824282009-02-18T06:45:00.000+01:002009-02-18T06:45:00.000+01:00Sounds like we have very similar issues down here ...Sounds like we have very similar issues down here in NZ. Shame that we pick up the BAD with the good when we imitate the UK. David - it's Bike Week here in NZ, and this morning was Bike to Breakfast - given free by the Auckland City Council. Check out Handlebra Easy Rider club blogsite for the two movies at the end and an idea of how it went. We can SOMETIMES look like we encourage biking.jayjayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08147806020789911745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-34853326652271821652009-02-18T06:40:00.000+01:002009-02-18T06:40:00.000+01:00Perhaps the problem could solved if they were taug...Perhaps the problem could solved if they were taught how to "drive" their bikes. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10558721460437987612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-34714747819902871512009-02-18T04:48:00.000+01:002009-02-18T04:48:00.000+01:00It happens all over the place. Here is another fi...It happens all over the place. Here is another fine example of taking a reasoned approach and just going with what is easy-<BR/>http://www.flickr.com/photos/cold_iron/3025731535/Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-17912083250294264022009-02-18T02:46:00.000+01:002009-02-18T02:46:00.000+01:00In Toronto, children cycling to school is a major ...In Toronto, children cycling to school is a major element of government policy. The Toronto District School Board just opened a new school, Brookside Public School. On the official TDSB web site it describes it thusly:<BR/><BR/>"Some of the features that Brookside possesses are a parking lot and bicycle rack area that have been specially designed to encourage walking and bicycle riding to Kevin Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186428862833389619noreply@blogger.com