Why no more bikes?

[Belgarath]

Hi guys.

 

So this topic has probably been covered already in the annals of BikeHub, but I realised it especially after last week...

 

So I finally convinced my wife that my son is old enough that she can ride with him to school, and then I go fetch him in the afternoon. There is a grand total of 3 boys' bikes in the shed.

 

Friday, as my son and I left, one boy (I guess him Grade 2, my son is Grade R), asked "Oom, is he going to ride that big bike, even without wheels ??". The amazement on his face.

 

I think back to my school career where you had to be at school at least 20min before school starts, otherwise your bike stands outside, as all the slots are taken. Also, beware if you park your bike on one of the older boys' spots...

 

My wife and I regularly take a very easy Sunday ride to the tea garden around the corner to go have breakfast, and the looks of amazement (and sometimes disdain) are always to be seen.

 

Why is the bike not being used anymore? Are people too afraid, or just too lazy?

[Pulse]

I've seen that as well... You won't believe how many teens have never been on a bike, and cannot ride a bicycle! Even just the concept of making circles with the legs is weird to them, never mind the balancing and steering.

[Guest]

I have also noticed a huge reduction in the number of school kids riding. I remember we even had a few girls at our school on bikes. I think the major reason is the safety factor. You will probably find a higher percentage of riders in the small rural towns than in the cities. i had a work mate whos son was bike jacked in Pietermaritzburg on the way to school. Its just not worth the risk.

[NotSoBigBen]

To a certain extent I believe it has to do with the volume of traffic (perceived and probably real more risk for kids) compared than when I was at school so many years ago (although my kids still think I walked in the snow uphill both ways barefoot or if I was lucky hitched a lift on a passing oxwagon)

[IceCreamMan]

The way the taxis drive in my area I would never allow my son on a bike to school and back. At northern farms etc no problem.

 

I think that's the main reason, traffic and the blatant disregard for anyone else that permeates our society.

[Belgarath]

The way the taxis drive in my area I would never allow my son on a bike to school and back. At northern farms etc no problem.

 

I think that's the main reason, traffic and the blatant disregard for anyone else that permeates our society.

 

Currently, because he has to cross a busy road, he won't go alone, probably until he reaches his teen years. However, there are so many kids living in the quiet streets (all sidewalked) around the school, and it is that I don't understand.

 

Agreed on the taxis, I regularly shake my fist, even when riding alone.

[Bateleur1]

Safety is a huge issue.  My kids school was about 4 km from our house.  They really wanted to ride their bikes to school.  But there were three roads they had to use where even I as a seasoned commuter in Pretoria would give it a second thought to use them.

 

Also there were a few instances of attempted kidnappings and the odd robbery of kids on their way to school so no it simply was not on the cards for them.

 

I did however cycle to pre-school with my youngest as that was 1 km away from home and in the neighbourhood.

 

One of the reasons we moved to Germany was things like this.  The youngest may not cycle alone yet but with supervision she can.  Beginning of next year she will be do her bike licence and the she can commute to school on her own.

[DJR]

We live within ideal cycling distance, 4 km,  from my two boys' school, and they can ride nearly the whole distance on a cycling path, so, very safe, crime wise too. The school has secure bike parking and showers. They are in grades 10 and 11 now, so old enough to do it without me. They each have a road and a mountain bike and have been riding since they were about 4 years old. Between them they have done 10 Cycle Tours. By bike it takes about the same amount of time as by car, with the Cape Town traffic the way it is.

 

Why don't we do it every day?

 

Because the amount of school books and sporting kit they have to cart around every day is just impossible to transport by bike. (Except if I import them a Danish cargo bike each ..... mmmmmm ....... the more I think about it ........)

 

So, we use the car to school, which means it stuffs up my own cycle commuting . The best we can do is to ride to school whenever they don't have to carry so much stuff, and that equates to whenever they are writing exams. Far too seldom. Otherwise I only get to ride my bike to work during the school holidays.

 

That reminded me to get things ready for tomorrow morning........

[V12man]

I've seen that as well... You won't believe how many teens have never been on a bike, and cannot ride a bicycle! Even just the concept of making circles with the legs is weird to them, never mind the balancing and steering.

As is many other things - like actually TALKING to people instead of texting them....

[rudi-h]

simple really... crime, irresponsible drivers, lack or town planning, lack of road expansion & maintenance, lack of sidewalks and upkeep thereof, high walls, not knowing & trusting our neighbours, the list goes on...

[eddy]

As is many other things - like actually TALKING to people instead of texting them....

 

 

Eating properly with a knife and fork......

[Bloukrans]

As is many other things - like actually TALKING to people instead of texting them....

Or look at people when they speak to them - not checking the phone while mumbling!

 

Maak my die m..r in!

[Mojoman]

I had a 20km odd ride to school in my days....down a dirt road from the farm through to a friends house and then onto the bus stop. I think people are worried about their safety these days....

[porqui]

Lived 1/2 my childhood on a bicycle !!

 

At 12yrs old I allow my son to go on his 1st outride on his own (at 10am) - 300m down the road attempted hi-jacking. And that was it.

 

We walked and cycled to school - my kids had to be taken to school by car.

[eddy]

I think people are worried about their safety these days....

 

 

I think that our perception of risk has also changed.

 

I was 17 and had a DT400 Yamaha scrambler as a National Serviceman. I had a learners licence (IIRC) but would ride from Jo'burg to Voortrekkerhoogte on the N1 in peak time traffic.

 

Yes, it was not as busy as it is now, but it was still three lanes at times and certainly much  busier then than most current highways are now.

 

I cannot see many parents letting their kids do something with an equivalent risk profile these days. Thinking back, I can't believe it,  but  it must have been deemed OK in those days.

[Belgarath]

I had a 20km odd ride to school in my days....down a dirt road from the farm through to a friends house and then onto the bus stop. I think people are worried about their safety these days....

 

I think that the reasons started like that, but now it has evolved into laziness? The people giving me commentary on "wtf are you doing" is more in the lines of "it's hot" or "it's effort".

 

Safety is a big concern, but there where it is not, people still opt for the car.