Photo by TDM Photography

Biking for the average able-bodied person in most urban areas can seem daunting. For parents and caretakers, it may feel downright impossible. This is why family riding has always been central to Tour de Streets and LivableStreets. ALL people should feel safe biking, whether they are 5 months or 95 years old. 

Here are a few tips for biking with kids for the first time. 

• Check bike routes before you head out. Avoid overly hilly routes, busy roads, and other things that a kid couldn’t navigate easily. Checking routes will also allow you to plan shortcuts in case your little one tires quickly.
• Plan your family bike rides around safe, quiet roads and cycle paths when possible.
• Don’t ride too far. If you take the family out on an extensive ride, your kids may look at the ride as too hard and a chore -- then crankiness will ensue. Shorter routes will keep them engaged and wanting to ride more in the future.
• If you have a very young child who is using a balance or training bike, a family ride on the pavement of your neighborhood is usually your best bet, unless your child can fit on a child bicycle seat or inside a trailer.
• Always allow the slowest rider to set the pace for the ride. This will keep things more enjoyable for young or inexperienced riders.

Whether you’re biking up and down the street of your neighborhood, riding through a park, or heading out for ice cream, a family bike ride is a fun, active way to connect with each other and view your community from an up-close perspective.

To participate, choose one or more of the following activities: 

• Share a memory about learning how to ride a bike and/or biking as a child.
• Go on a ride with your family in your community or choose one of the kid friendly routes from previous Tour de Streets rides (routes are on the map below).