How old can you ride a bike?

Cycling is fun and physical. Therefore, the question of the age at which children can start skating is very relevant. It is necessary to carefully observe all safety standards and at the same time not to deprive the kids of the joy of free movement.

First of all, you need to answer the question at what point you can put a child behind the wheel, in general. Pediatricians, educators and psychologists believe that this process should not be forced. The correct guideline will be that the little person has mastered full-fledged walking and has become physically stronger. He is then able to sit on the bike seat and hold the handlebars. The first "rudder tests" can be made as early as 12-18 months.

Of course, there is no question of free skating. They just put the baby on a 3-wheeled bike and demonstrate:

• how to pedal;
• how to stop;
• how to turn aside.

Recommendation: it is better to start mastering wheeled transport with balance bikes. They will allow:

• train the required muscle groups;
• to strengthen the reaction to what is happening and give it the necessary forms;
• master the basic skills of driving bikes.

At the age of 2.5-3 years, a child can ride a bicycle almost fully. Of course, it must be a tricycle with the proverbial parental handle. It is impractical to use a bike of too complex construction.

The time to move to the next stage is determined by:

• physical and mental development of the child;
• his general fitness;
• specifically riding skills;
• the frequency of cycling;
• the ability of parents to pay attention.

Usually, riding a tricycle ends at 5-6 years old. With good physical development, it is possible to transfer children to a 2-wheel bike even earlier. It should be borne in mind that the rapid development of a young organism will force them to often change bicycles at this time. When it is 1 m tall, the wheel should be 12 inches in diameter.

But driving a bike, even a 2-wheeled one, of a sports class, in the yard or on the sidewalk is one thing. And it is quite another matter when the child drives out onto the roadway. Here it is not the will of the parents (or rather, not she alone) that is acting, but the inexorable rules of the road. They instruct children under 7 to travel only:

• on the sidewalks;
• special dedicated tracks;
• pedestrian areas and other places where motor vehicles do not run.

Riding under the age of 14 is also permitted on cycle paths. And starting from the age of 14, it is allowed to ride both on the sides of the roads and on the cycle lanes allocated on them. But, regardless of the specific age, the absolute priority is still assigned to cycle paths. All other options are provided by the rules only in the case when for some reason they cannot be used. If preschoolers are riding in a separate seat, driven by an adult, or someone of the age is accompanying them, then you can also ride on the sidewalk.

It must be remembered that cyclists are full road users, regardless of age. Therefore, they can be held liable for all violations committed. The only difference is that the parents pay fines and compensations for the little rider. There are even special "bike" insurance policies. Judicial practice also shows that cyclists can be found guilty and obliged to compensate for the damage. Before, in the USSR, it was forbidden to ride a bicycle without a license and without license plates.

Now there is no such limitation. But another rule appeared: ride either on bike paths or on the carriageway. In the second case, it is allowed to move only in the direction of the stream, and not against it.

Obviously, this requires a certain level of skill and response. Not all children by the age of 7-11 are sufficiently prepared purely from a psychophysiological point of view, and it is impossible to guarantee their safe passage along the road.

That is why the rules of the road say unambiguously: you cannot drive a bicycle on the roads (on their carriageways) until you reach the age of 14. Traffic rules do not establish any prescriptions for the qualities of the bike used itself. But all the same, for your own peace of mind and to avoid many problems, under the age of 14, only bicycles of a special children's design should be allowed to be used. Attempting to use "adult" models too early will only lead to great danger, and sometimes directly to great disaster.

Riding a motorized bike is a very special “world”, and the requirements of the law are much stricter here than in relation to ordinary cyclists. The electric bike is quite heavy and develops very high, almost car speeds. If the motor is relatively weak (up to 0.25 kW), and the speed does not exceed 25 km / h, you can ride on such vehicles from the age of 14. If the bike comes with an engine more powerful than 0.25 kW and / or falls into the category "from 25 to 50 km / h", the bar rises to 16 years. Important: vehicles with several driving modes at once are classified according to the most powerful of them.

It should be borne in mind that road safety inspectors have no time to carry out a deep examination of where what power is on the road. That's why it is necessary from the very beginning to be guided by the most stringent age restrictions. Moreover, it will be calmer for the parents themselves.As for powerful (from 250 W) bicycles, you will have to obtain a driver's license to drive them. It is drawn up traditionally, as for motorists or motorcyclists: with training at a driving school, with a medical commission, with passing exams. This implies not only the ability to drive, but also a thorough knowledge of the official laws.

For information on how to teach a child to ride a bike, see the next video.