yeah, the two private schools near my place are like that too. One is a catholic school, the other one I'm not sure about.
Roads lined with X5s, Prados, Range Rovers and other big SUVs. Surely many of these don't go that far. I remember much like you that if I wanted to get to school back when I was a boy, I had to walk the 1.5km distance. Rain, hail or stinking heat.
Derny Driver wrote:Kids need to ride on the footpath until they are 12. I don't think cops would book 14 or 15 year olds for riding on the footpath either, even though it is "illegal". I ride a little motor scooter to work each day and the most dangerous time is when the mums are in their big rush to pick up their kids and race off to the shops or home or whatever. I have nearly been taken out several times in the afternoon madness.
My son started bike racing at age 14 and needed to train on roads, hence the scooter. Every time he trained, I went with him. just riding behind as rear guard buffer. Unless a person holds a driver's licence they do not know the road rules and are not able to anticipate what cars are doing. Road riding for under 18s is risky.
Even now he is 18 I go with him as often as I can. There is never a problem when the moto is there, cars give me a respectable distance no matter how slow we are going. Because I have ridden shotgun with him for 3 years, he now knows how to ride safely and avoid dangerous situations. When he goes out solo I am still slightly nervous but I know he is skilled up and I don't worry about him.
People with kids who ride, or wives who ride, should spend a grand and get a second hand scooter. You get to spend a couple of hours of quality time together, chatting, and you are keeping that person 100% safe. Riding alone is dodgy even for adults.
You are a dad, so the slightly nervous bit is natural. I agree with you that riding alone is dodgy even for adults. When there are a few more riders along, motorists are a little better behaved.
I can remember back when I used to work in southern-Sydney (Hurstville), most afternoons I'd be walking back to the station to go home and I'd see this school kid who couldn't have been any more than 15 or 16 on the road on his road-bike, in the full kit (probably part of a cycling club) very confidently navigating the Forest Road peak-hour traffic. And if I remember right, holding station in the centre of the lane too.