resolvedOver the past year my son (now 9 years old) increasingly prefers to ride his own bike rather than stoke a tandem. We still use the tandem for longer journeys, when we need to be fast, or for those routes which involve very busy roads/tram tracks.
Anyway until recently my son has ridden on a mix of the pavement (with me on the road) and off road paths, and preferred it this way. However, as his confidence has grown he is increasingly frustrated with having to stop or slow down for pedestrians. Not that he's what 'we' would call a fast rider, but his momentum is compromised and it takes him a while to get it back. Of course this is an inherent flaw in the 'shared use' system, but I'm surprised to see it a problem for such a young rider.
Over the past few months, he would hop onto the road on quiter streets, cul-de-sacs and the like. However since he turned nine he's increasingly demanding to ride on the road, however busy it may be. This has led to us riding two abreast, with me as the outrider 'shepherding' him. Fine on a nice wide road, especially if there's a bus lane, more problematic if the road is narrow or there are pinch points. Most drivers have been good, but a few close passes or irate blasts of the horn have got me wondering if I ought to encourage this. Certainly at some junctions I send him onto the pavement if it looks hazardous.
On the one hand I'm pleased that his confidence is growing and that he wants to develop his roadcraft. On the other I'm getting concerned about safety. Shared use paths and pavements may be slower or less direct, but they are much safer for him to ride on (and for me too). I'm wondering what the next stage is: do I continue to encourage road cycling? Or retreat somewhat to the shared use/pavement combo? Or steer a pragmatic course between the two depending upon route?
Anyone else had this experience?
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