Teaching Young Children to Cycle
Wheel Life column - 29 January, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Perhaps you have a young child who received his or her first bicycle as a holiday gift last month. And perhaps it has been gathering dust while you wait for a good opportunity to teach your little angle to ride.

Well, wait no longer. This week we offer suggestions for teaching cycling to a beginner.

Teaching children to bicycle requires patience. Although some children learn quickly, most take several lessons spread over several weeks. There's no point in trying to rush the process. Just let junior set the pace.

Here's the basic recipe. Take one kid and one suitable bike. Reject any oversized or poorly operating bike. If in doubt, have it checked by a mechanic. Bundle child as needed and top with helmet.

Children six or younger usually start cycling with training wheels. At first have the training wheels touch the ground, then raise them a little after a few weeks, so the child learns to balance. Older children often learn to ride without training wheels.

Lower the bike seat so the child can touch the ground, although you'll raise it later, once they are riding.

Find a suitable practice location. This can be a trail, park or empty parking lot near your home. A grass lawn is ideal in dry weather, since it forgives falls, but that may be too much to ask during this sodden time of year.

Today's map shows part of the Galloping Goose Trail, a pleasant place to practice cycling because good role models constantly ride by, and there are fun things to do along the way so children won't get bored. For more information on local trails visit http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks, or purchase a copy of the Victoria Cycling Map, available at bike shops.

Teach one skill at a time. Begin having the child push-off, pedal once, then stop and put their foot down, with you helping to provide balance. Practice this several time with increasing distance: start-pedal-stop, start-pedaal-stop, start-pedaaal-stop. Take frequent breaks.

Once the child masters these skills, add steering. You can play follow-the-leader, or mark an obstacle course on the pavement. Soon they will be riding circles around you!

After your child learns bike handling skills, start teaching traffic skills, such as stopping before entering a roadway, riding on the right side of the road, and obeying traffic signs.