None of these fears are rational except the car thing, which is very rational. I would still lean toward letting them do it but teach them diligently about bike traffic safety and emphasize that they will NEVER win in a fight against a motor vehicle.

-cyclist

Anonymous wrote:There's absolutely no reason to think workers who work on homes would be child predators more than accountants and lawyers who work behind desks in offices.

Of course there's not. One is likely to encounter solo kids on bikes and have easy access to a van and the other is not. That's the point I think OP's highlighting.

There's absolutely no reason to think workers who work on homes would be child predators more than accountants and lawyers who work behind desks in offices.

Are they 5 and 6 or 11 and 12? Assuming they’re old enough and responsible I would ride with them a couple times and discuss potential hazards. I would not worry a random stranger would abduct them if they’re not alone. I would not think that people working at or around my house are predators. That’s actually insulting.

Be careful about biking on a sidewalk. Some municipalities specifically prohibit this except for young cyclists learning to bike with a parent.

Biking is an excellent way to stay healthy and the few true concerns are outweighed by the health benefits. I wouldn't spend time worrying about child predators snatching him or workers snatching him. Children are in FAR, FAR more danger from family members or close friends than they are from strangers.

Car safety when biking is something you can teach him. It won't remove all danger, but it will help with most. But seriously, the fresh air, the exercise, the autonomy? Those are things that make life worth living.

My son has cycled to school for 2 years. The upside (even in a place - Maryland - with perhaps the worst drivers in the Nation) has far outweighed the down. He has gained agency. Has he had close calls? You bet. It’s Maryland! But even with those he says he will miss it next year. He will have to take a bus for first 2 years of high school, then drive.

I spent a couple of weeks shadowing my kids riding their bikes to and from school and then they became bike riders. School is in our neighborhood with no major streets to cross. We required a route with the least traffic. Never a problem and my kids loved being the school bike riders.

Only #3 is a valid fear.

Anonymous wrote:No. Stranger kidnapping is incredibly rare. My husband is ma FBI agent and has never seen one. When is kid is kidnapped, it’s almost always the dad.

Cars are a valid fear but if they are on the sidewalk, they will likely be fine.

This.

No. Stranger kidnapping is incredibly rare. My husband is ma FBI agent and has never seen one. When is kid is kidnapped, it’s almost always the dad.

Cars are a valid fear but if they are on the sidewalk, they will likely be fine.

No. My kids biked to and from school (and jobs, and friends’ houses) for their whole lives without incident.

My kids bike home, but without knowing how old your kids are, or how far, it's pretty much impossible to answer.

I think that a car hitting them is far and away the biggest risk, and if you're addressing that by having them use the sidewalk, that's good.

Yes. So why are you letting them bike home?

Dh and I are letting our kids ride their bikes home from school. We live in a suburb and it’s really quiet and not too much traffic. But I still have anxiety about this. Do you think I should just let them and not worry?

The things I worry about are 1. Workers (we always have a lot of workers -lawn care guys, all sorts of home care trucks, movers, not so much construction workers but all sorts of potential child predators.) 2. Random man snatching them while they ride home. 3. Random car hitting them (even though they mostly use sidewalks.)

Are any of my fears valid?