Bike Ride Safety

[Anonymous]

Is this in daylight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this in daylight

Yeah. It's daylight.

Maybe it's unfair to drop in now... but my father was killed on a bike on a similar sized road. So while i usually follow instincts, mine are a bit skewed on this.

But this girl has a ton of freedom day to day. She's a bit of a homebody by nature, but she can share the car almost whenever she likes, so we aren't exactly holding her back. No tracking, no texting, just a general ... tell us when you will be back and keep your phone on for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The reason kids have so much anxiety is because their parents don't give them any leeway to do MILDLY dangerous things to build their confidence.

SO true.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I would stress is people turning right as she comes up in their blind spot. It’s a very common accident pattern. She should also have Wesson’s this as a driver in a high bike use area.

Other than that, she sounds ready. You’d be amazed how much more careful kids are when they are not managed by a parent or distracted by a peer.

[Anonymous]

Odd autocorrect. She should also have awareness…

[Anonymous]

I just want to be clear, because I am still confused.

She would be riding in town, where it is safe. Then at the edge of town, where the road becomes a 4 lane highway, she would cross at a light and then ride the rest of the way on the sidewalk?

Yes, I would feel safe with that.

[Anonymous]

She will make friends and be getting rides to the gym in no time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She will make friends and be getting rides to the gym in no time.

No cars or Ubers allowed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are completely insane.
The reason kids have so much anxiety is because their parents don't give them any leeway to do MILDLY dangerous things to build their confidence. A 16 yr old can go ride a bike and figure it out. Toss her a helmet and move on with life. Surely you see how nuts it is that a teenager who drives has a mommy calling a gym to ask about crossing the street?

Drivers are all on their phones watching TikTok. OP is right to be cautious about biking in traffic. If the sidewalk for the 4 lane road is a solid option, she can navigate like a pedestrian, and it’s okay but assume drivers are not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to be clear, because I am still confused.

She would be riding in town, where it is safe. Then at the edge of town, where the road becomes a 4 lane highway, she would cross at a light and then ride the rest of the way on the sidewalk?

Yes, I would feel safe with that.

By four lane highway so you mean like RT 50 through Arlington or Rockville Pike? There are sidewalk the whole way?

[Anonymous]

She should get off the bike when using the crosswalk on the busy street. Drivers don't see bikes as easily as they see pedestrians. I don't recall why, but it is a real thing.

[Anonymous]

Light and reflectors on the bike. She should have many choices of brighter non-black clothes.