Mega Thread The Questions Thread - Part III

[Gralin]

If you're talking unsupervised
Vic laws don't list a specific age

It's all about what would be considered reasonable

Which means a lot of grey area for the cops and courts to play with

How far are they traveling, how long does it take, how safe is the route, how mature is the kid etc

Are they crossing with a crossing guard

If you're going with them then you can also ride on the footpath

 

[peternorth]

If you're talking unsupervised
Vic laws don't list a specific age

It's all about what would be considered reasonable

Which means a lot of grey area for the cops and courts to play with

How far are they traveling, how long does it take, how safe is the route, how mature is the kid etc

Are they crossing with a crossing guard

If you're going with them then you can also ride on the footpath

Ride on the footpath?
PaY ReGo!!!!

 

[troybe]

What is a reasonable age for two children to ride their bikes to school? There's a few small streets to cross but no main roads and it's about a 2km ride in total.

Are you riding with them? 2km is a fair way

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

'tis a hypothetical
my mother is arguing with me because I said I'm open to my boys riding to school (together, without me) when they're in grade 6 and 4 if they're up to it

 

[Nothing]

'tis a hypothetical
my mother is arguing with me because I said I'm open to my boys riding to school (together, without me) when they're in grade 6 and 4 if they're up to it

When the weather cools, I'll be letting my 8 year old ride (bike or scooter) to school with a friend. About 1km. 1 major road to cross, with a crossing guard.

They walk home together now.

 

[Off The Couch]

'tis a hypothetical
my mother is arguing with me because I said I'm open to my boys riding to school (together, without me) when they're in grade 6 and 4 if they're up to it

Think that’s more than okay, but I don’t know your kids, you do and you’re the best person to make the call on whether they are responsible enough

 

[Catfish Alley]

My kids are in grades 4 and 6. Their school is about 1km away and they walk. I’d let them ride a bike if they wanted to. They have plenty of friends who do.

 

[Cruyff14]

Too many variables.

Each kid and route to school is different.

 

[Gough]

I tend to look back on my school commutes as one of the first bits of freedom as a kid. It was never far, if you didn't turn up your folks were informed pretty so that quater of an hour you took to get to school was some of the first real unsupervised time you got. On Google maps I can still navigate from our home in Perth to Manning Primary and I haven’t physically walked that in over forty years.

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

I was raised by a helicopter and it drove me insane so I’m trying to make sure the kids have reasonable independence that increases as they grow. Its tricky to get the balance right.

 

[Shell]

I was chauffeured to and from school so I have nfi

 

[Gralin]

I was raised by a helicopter and it drove me insane so I’m trying to make sure the kids have reasonable independence that increases as they grow. Its tricky to get the balance right.

our kid walked home once a week with one of their friends in grade 6 to help them both get ready for high school commutes

about 1.5kms including crossing a couple of roads, there were crossing guards on the two busy ones

had to go get them a couple of times when the main road crossing guards didn't show up and they didnt want to try and cross at the lights without a guard

just depends on your kids and what kind of path they have to take as to whether you think they're ready

our kid had a phone so they could call us if they got stuck anywhere

they probably could have done that in grade 5 as well if they had wanted to but there is no way they would have wanted to in grade 4

of course having a big brother or sister to do it with helps as well

 

[the_interloper]

I was raised by a helicopter and it drove me insane so I’m trying to make sure the kids have reasonable independence that increases as they grow. Its tricky to get the balance right.

My young bloke has probably an 8 min walk home, he's in grade 4 so i meet him halfway now, probably from next year he can walk the whole way i reckon. There's plenty of other kids and parents walking the same route so it's pretty safe i think.

But yeah high school will be in a few years, he'll be getting the bus i reckon so trying to prepare for that is in the back of the mind.

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

Thanks everyone. Eldest is pushing to do it NOW (in grade 2 so it's obviously a no ) so I said when he's in grade 6. I thought that was reasonable. His nana does not. I appreciate all the responses!

 

[the_interloper]

Thanks everyone. Eldest is pushing to do it NOW (in grade 2 so it's obviously a no ) so I said when he's in grade 6. I thought that was reasonable. His nana does not. I appreciate all the responses!

Your mum or your partners?

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

Your mum or your partners?

Mine, the helicopter

 

[revo333]

It's a good thing in my opinion that an 8 year old wants that responsibility.

If it was my decision I'd probably give them a chance to do it when they are 10 to prove if they are responsible enough.

But if they muck it up once, then it's wait until grade 6.

 

[Over The Post]

Faaaarrk times have changed. I'm not saying I trudged 20 miles through the snow uphill both ways to and from school, but I walked to/from school on my own after the first couple of weeks in grade 1. Bicycle in grade 5 which led to a couple of breathless runs after getting home "where's your bike" oops forgot its still at school.

 

[Shell]

Faaaarrk times have changed. I'm not saying I trudged 20 miles through the snow uphill both ways to and from school, but I walked to/from school on my own after the first couple of weeks in grade 1. Bicycle in grade 5 which led to a couple of breathless runs after getting home "where's your bike" oops forgot its still at school.

I heard a funny story this real young kid got the wrong bus or something and got lost going home? Must have been on the radio

Eventually found his way home somehow.

Imagine the uproar if that happened today

 

[Gough]

Faaaarrk times have changed. I'm not saying I trudged 20 miles through the snow uphill both ways to and from school, but I walked to/from school on my own after the first couple of weeks in grade 1. Bicycle in grade 5 which led to a couple of breathless runs after getting home "where's your bike" oops forgot its still at school.

Good opportunity to learn to smoke.

 

[Off The Couch]

I heard a funny story this real young kid got the wrong bus or something and got lost going home? Must have been on the radio

Eventually found his way home somehow.

Imagine the uproar if that happened today

My daughter and a friend did this at the end of the day on their first day of high school - of course very few mobiles at school back then and they had to do a reverse call from a phone box to get me to come pick them up

 

[revo333]

Faaaarrk times have changed. I'm not saying I trudged 20 miles through the snow uphill both ways to and from school, but I walked to/from school on my own after the first couple of weeks in grade 1. Bicycle in grade 5 which led to a couple of breathless runs after getting home "where's your bike" oops forgot its still at school.

Yep, mid 90's my brothers and I had to walk to primary school whenever Mum couldn't take us. Had to cross a very busy road at the lights. Would have done it many times on my own in grade 5 and 6.

Looking at google maps it was 1.2 km walk.

 

[Over The Post]

Looking at google maps it was 1.2 km walk.

Me, 1978-81 2.6km walk to the railway station before catching the train to school (and reverse in the afternoon).

 

[the_interloper]

Me, 1978-81 2.6km walk to the railway station before catching the train to school (and reverse in the afternoon).

Why wouldn't the train just go forward on both trips?

 

[Neese]

'tis a hypothetical
my mother is arguing with me because I said I'm open to my boys riding to school (together, without me) when they're in grade 6 and 4 if they're up to it

The time is right when they are mature enough. Responsibility is important for them and to look after each other is a good thing.