BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

No advice but I totally feel for you on #2. That's a really hard situation.

Unless your son is committed to riding the whole way, I would suggest a bike/bus commute as an alternative. He could ride to one of the East Busway stops (you can easily find a low traffic route to either the East Liberty or Negley Station) and then take any number of buses to Liberty and 10th downtown.

I do this almost every day (with the added fun of a second bus out to Robinson).

I would also suggest the bike racks in the parking garage on Penn and 9th.

Sara, Which CMU garage are you referring to? You can get to the Panther Hollow trail from Schenly Park without traveling on any streets by jumping the railroad tracks near Panther Hollow Lake. Trains are MUCH more predictable than traffic.

I know where you live because I was looking

at deeds and saw your name. small world.

Down your street. Left on beechwood. Left on

aylesboro and ride that to the entrance of

schenley. I think it avoids a few bad

intersections that the direct route takes.

Otherwise I would take the Jail Trail to

First ave to the point and take that trail

to the convention center trail up to capa.

We did the summer bike program and I never

even knew that connector was there going

up from the river to the convention center.

I would avoid smithfield downtown. It mihgt

add 5 minutes but smithfield has a lot of

buses and doors.

wow. if you figure out a way to deal with #2, kudos. You know your kid better than anybody else, my guess is he's not the issue. The issue is all the people he might meet along the way that you DON'T know (people in cars, trucks, busses, on bikes, foot, everybody).

Somehow the bus plan seems safer to me - usually the same commuters ride the same buses at the same time every day, so there'd be a little community of people. That, for some reason, seems quite safe and reasonable to me for a 13y.o.

If I were biking the whole way, I'd likely take steevo's route, because it's quite traffic light. I wouldn't go through the CMU garage, it seems like a hassle when the trails are right there.

The first route seems fine. The boy will probably adjust it himself as he tries it a few times. You might use this opportunity to tell CAPA they need to provide some bike facilities and it will reduce that thick traffic at pick up/drop off times.

I wish I had some genius for you on part #2, but I don't have much, it's hard. I do have some perspective from both sides. When I was about your son's age I got a good road bike. Prior to that I had already been riding all over my small town. But this road bike opened up all of North-east Ohio, I'd ride way out into the farms, up to Lake Erie, hundreds of miles a year. Way before cell phones. If I carried a quarter and a spare tube, that would be a lot. When I was 14 I went with a school group on a bike tour in Europe, and at one point the leaders allowed me to go off apart from the group and ride over the Grossglockner pass in Austria (they were taking a bus - F that) and meet them on the other side. I also went off, with permission, and went all over Paris on my own on the subway system. My parents and the leaders somehow had immense trust in me and faith in the world that I could do these things, and these things I will never forget. Now as a parent I don't know how they did it. The world is no more dangerous now than it was then.

There are forces at work in the world that want to make us afraid of living, for whatever reason, to boost TV ratings, to sell papers, to control us. Don't be a part of those forces. Life is pretty cool.

At the try-a-bike on Sunday my son wanted to ride the tall bike, and it was kind of scary. He started off and got up on the seat, but he wasn't pedaling and he was going to stall and fall. So, of two choices, I could freak and try to catch him, or I could give him a push. So I pushed him. Hope that helps.

Re: Steevo's route, I would recommend using Northumberland instead of Aylesboro. Primarily because there are lights at all the major intersections (Shady, Murray, and Wightman).

#2, How about finding a bike buddy?

Bill, I thought it was awesome to see a father push his son on a bike on sunday, no matter the age! That made me smile.

Kids heal quicker than adults, so keep that in mind if something does happen. There are a good number of us here who have not been in an accident and we have been riding for years. You have done the right thing by teaching him defensive driving. Would a camera on his helmet put you more at ease?

As far as getting to the jail trail, I think it makes sense to drop down through the CMU parking garage from phipps. That way he avoids the RR tracks, which can be really slippery even when there is just frost (and it avoids the shitty bump up onto the asphalt right before the tracks... I hate that). I would recommend not taking the chute. People wait for the bus and it is a series of blind turns. Maybe have him walk up the ballast across the RR tracks and into the upmc parking lot? When I try to make the right turn from saline at the intersection with greenfield ave, I get pissed cause oncoming traffic makes their left turn without yielding to my right turn. There is also a lot of loose gravel after it rains as you make the turn off of second ave and up the hill to get to the trail head.

When coming up from the Point to CAPA, I'm not sure if you are referring to the low connector or the high one right alongside Ft Duquesne Blvd, but there are usually a few days in the spring when the low one is underwater. Just something to keep in mind so there's no surprise on the day it happens and you have to stay up high.

Going down Ft Pitt Blvd to the Point sounds like a good plan compared to Smithfield.

I forget if the bike parking garage with the big green wall and bike picture on it is on 9th or 7th, but they have free outdoor parking or you could rent an indoor space there too if there's a vacancy.

Best of luck with #2, I think trust the training and time are all that will help with that one.

Steevo's route makes the most sense. I'd have him avoid as much traffic as possible in town, especially at rush hour. And using Smithfield is a bad habit, since he (technically) wouldn't able to get back to the trail at the end of the day.

As far as the chute v. crossing the tracks v. taking Second Avenue, why don't you ask him to do what cyclists are supposed to there--walk their bikes along the sidewalk and chute? I've gotten in the habit of avoiding that whole area--Second Avenue kinda stinks, the chute kinda stinks, and I don't feel comfortable crossing through the lot and over the tracks (not saying folks shouldn't cut through there...I just don't feel comfortable doing it).

As for #2, yeah, I'm right there with you, but I don't have any sage advice. Just trust him, and what you've taught him.

Wow, as you struggle through these decisions, bear in mind that these are also monumental steps in your child's life. You've been teaching him defensive riding for two years now. He has a route that is mostly off road. Yes, he's only 13. But, 13 year olds CAN display a great deal of maturity, if they are permitted to do so.

Ride the route with him a few times. ride it in segments, so you can find the route that makes YOU the most comfortable, and ask that he use that (at least until you get more comfortable with all this.)

Make sure he has a bus ticket (or two) stashed in his wallet/book bag, in case he suffers a mechanical problem. Teach him enough about the buses between downtown and Sq. Hill to get his CLOSE to home, if not directly to your corner. There's a rack on every bus. That will guarantee that he can get to school and home again.

There is bike parking downtown. Nothing directly in front of CAPA, but there is a rack that's close in the parking garage on Penn, just west of Ninth Street. That's about 2 blocks from CAPA, maybe? We have seen a bike or two disappear from that rack, so make sure he knows how to use a good U lock and cable set up. There is less publicly visible parking behind the Bike Center, at the entrance to the parking garage on Seventh (between Penn and Ft. Duquesne, opposite Bossa Nova.) I'd probably use that location myself, but it's a little further from CAPA.

I would not recommend the wave style racks at the Convention Center. They just seem to exposed yet remote to me.

When's his first day of class?

Does your son ride a fixed gear or a single speed? (if memory serves me right)

I'd be tempted to go from Beacon to Greenfield

I'd also jump the tracks rather than using the chute, especially since I imagine he'll be using a backpack and has a light bike

From the end of the trail at Grant, I'd jump on to Blvd of the Allies, swing to the point, then ride the trail back up to around the Convention Center and then walk over to CAPA

As for the age, I started commuting around the same time (albeit a smaller town/shorter commute) From this point, his safety or skill won't increase with age unless he gets out and start riding. I.E. A 16 year old cyclist that's never done it before is probably just as likely to get into an accident as a 13 year old.

If you start the kid out on the bike, he could take what he's learned into the car too.

What time does school start these days? If he's up for it, I'll be riding a pretty similar route the next two Tuesdays

I'd get him some nice lights. Maybe a Cygolite Hotshot or brighter and a MiNewt 350 or something, both cordless so he can take them with him

Re #2, it's about managing the transition. You know that when he's 17 it's going to be fine. The end-state is certain, it's the transition that's open to misadventure.

With my kids, when they're transitioning re bikes/bus/cars I have dibs on getting to go with them until I'm comfortable that they're good on their own. Sometimes it's just one or two co-rides; sometimes it's more.

It's not just about them being comfortable with it, it's also about me being comfortable with it, and part of their job is making me comfortable with it. Because it's all about me.

If your own schedule permits, can you ride in with him the first week in the mornings? (Detaching before the Parent becomes visible to the posse?)

Because it's the first week, and the mornings rather than the afternoons, when he's most likely to benefit from your presence. Just ride behind him, and after the first orientation you're only going to bother him for safety items. You're the safety net.

I'm thinking you'll both be more comfortable after a few dual rides. The third or fourth day, you're going to think "I probably didn't need to be here".

If you can't get there those first few mornings, can you arrange for somebody else to be the wingman?

Generally the kid is good, the most difficult transition is the parent's. (in my experience)

I wish you the best, this letting go stuff is very tricky and it's especially hard to do it in a way that leaves the relationship effective.

I told my youngest last week, you're a creature that's supposed to be changing and growing and you are just living the dream, and parents are creatures that tend to resist change, and there's an inherent tension.

But: it's all about working the two transitions (yours and his).

Cheers, V.

Frankly we all hate the chute. My husband had to convince me to send him through it since I always take the road. The quick portage up the hill by the parking lot is a better idea, and we will do that.

I feel ok about Beacon-Schenley and my kid knows the area since he loves to ride/skate to the art store so we’ll stick to that. Drivers on Beechwood are crazy during the morning rush so there’s not much advantage to switching it up. On the return he cuts through CMU to the golf course then over to Darlington.

I think First Ave is better than Blvd or Fort Pitt. What about on the way back? Is there a safer way to get the jail trail other than the left turn of doom from Grant onto First?

I have ridden this with him several times and plan to keep doing so until he knows the route well, and I can go with him to school for a while too. He likes riding with me and he’s cool being seen with his mom in front of his friends (for now anyway). He learned how to put his bike on the bus rack at Try-A-Bike (awesome!) but he really wants to ride the whole way.

Oh, first day is Aug 30. We just rode it yesterday and we'll do it a few more times between now and school. I can go with him for the first few weeks of school too. He needs to try this with a fully loaded back pack. The kids can't take the elevators and the middle school is on the 8th floor so he's going to be tired at the end of the day even though he's in decent shape (runs 10ks, did the pgh sprint tri, etc).

round of applause for you for even considering it, and I guess also for raising a kid that wants to do this on his own. My parents gave us a lot of freedom as kids, my brothers even more than me and I'm so glad that they did.

I was actually thinking sidewalk on Ft Pitt, there is a fair amount of trail traffic that goes both ways doing that. You're right though, First is better if you're staying in the street in bound. I haven't found anything I like better than the sidewalk when going from the Point to Smithfield and that's the only place I opt not to ride in the street.

I was riding all over Tampa at that age, and loved it. Used to give my mom nightmares, though.

I'd advise him to keep quiet about anything that happens that might worry you. Don't ask don't tell. For example, if he decides to explore and ends up miles away from where you think he should be don't call home.

Bus money or a bus ticket might be a good idea. He can use that if he gets stuck due to mechanical problems.

he needs panniers that double as a back pack, or is a bunjee'd crate a possibility? It's so much more pleasant without the pack on the back. Sooooo much more pleasant.

I'm encouraged by everyone's comments on here... My mom was pretty ok with freedoms and independence until I started using them (around 12-13, come to think of it), and I think sometimes my worldview is still skewed as a result. Maybe that's another thing that might help - know that he'll take away what you present. Confidence, preparation, and a sense of cautious adventure, or a fearful death grip.

Ultimately, you will find a happy solution that works for you and your son. You're the mom, that's what moms do, right?

This doesn't quite connect up to CAPA, but when I was going downtown regularly I'd take Ross inbound from the trail. Very congested & with door zones, but slow-moving. Cut across Mellon Green, walk across Grant, remount & do 6th Ave >Montour Way> Strawberry the wrong way (sorry)> to Liberty.

If you have a comfortable route from home to any of the East Busway stops, that's also an option.

Maybe have a (general) chat about confrontations with strangers. How to handle himself smartly if he gets screamed at. It was great having him at Try-A-Bike -- hope you can work this out.

BTW I love it that this request is coming from a mom who swims regularly in the Allegheny River.

A little bit longer but you can avoid downtonw streets totally. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1581888 -- it's a little bit longer but view is priceless.

Mikhail, I thought of this but it's hard getting him up in the morning as it is. I'll run this idea past him and ride it with him to see what he thinks.

He's a snob about sidewalk-riding but he'll do it if I insist. I am not sure how to get him back to the jail trail in one piece from downtown with out doing the S Side detour or sidewalks.

I am definitely putting a rack on his commuter bike.

Oh, and he loves swimming in the river with me too.

Thanks everyone for the help/support, I really really appreciate it. This has been very hard but I'm trying not show it around my kid. sigh

@Pseudacris, you are right about confrontations and unfortunately I have been a terrible role model. I told him under no circumstances is he to swear or otherwise engage with drivers (unlike mommy). I explained why. I think he gets it.

Also: buying him a RoadID. He picked the color.

You can also let him know that every cyclist friend of yours knows who he is and will report back to you if we see him doing something he shouldnt. A look over the shoulder is a good thing every now and then.

Well, I know how to get him there and back avoiding downtown.

Jail trail -- T on the first ave (it's in golden triangle and free) -> north shore, north trail, Dq Bridge, point, Convention Centre. And reverse it -- CC, Point, Dq Bridge, north trail, T to 1-2st, jail trail.

Haha Marko, yeah, my kid is easy to spot. He'll probably take his red '86 Trek 400 (downtube shifters) that has bright green tire walls, green pedals, and green bar tape. His hair might be blue, pink, green, etc. And he wears skinny jeans with checkered vans every day.

"This has been very hard but I'm trying not show it around my kid."

Wouldn't letting him know you're concerned for his safety encourage him to act with more care? I've never heard children say "My mom cared too much!"

(Which isn't to say I haven't heard kids saying their parents were overly concerned, but that's usually combined with a lack of freewill, which you're still allowing)

There's a difference between being concerned (good) and terrified (bad).

For going home have him ride the long way. Over Smithfield or ft Pitt bridges to the ss trail to hot metal bridge and back through the hollow.

It's a real bummer that there's no safe way to reconnect with the jail trail riding uptown.

Not just for my kid, but for all of us.

Yes, we can't get an 8 foot wide, two way path, one mile across town, yet we have this insane spaghetti of concrete just to provide the most barely adequate movement of motor vehicle traffic. In what rational world does this not register as an epic fail?

20th century urban planning = trying to keep cars from destroying cities, mostly losing.

requisite onion article.

Just did this again with him this a.m.

Definitely going to cross the tracks to avoid the chute. Has anybody ever seen a train there? Just curious.

First ave wasn't too fun and ends at Stanwix so I am just going to put him on the Blvd from Smithfield going down and back to Grant going home. That's the way we always go and he has ridden downtown with us dozens of times over the years so he knows the drill.

There's an alley from the convention center to 9th street behind Blush right next to CAPA and there's a place to lock up in the garage across the street so that worked out great.

*THANK YOU everybody for your help!*

p.s. Looking at the map, the easiest way to get to the point is to swim there.

Hi Sarah -- yes those are live train tracks & the train can' t stop quickly. Fortunately, the sightlines are decent and there is no reason to "cut it close" if you see or hear the train coming from either direction. I' ve seen smaller maintenance vehicles on the tracks a time or two.

Good to know. He wouldn't dart out in front of a train. I've never seen one there at all. Thanks for the info.

Ironically I think the most dangerous part of the commute is Boundary street btwn the parking garage and Panther Hollow -- cars there seem to be going 45-50 mph and the road is narrow.

Also if it eases your mind, motorists seem to keep more of an eye out when they see a youngster, and there are more cyclists out there than ever and I know I for one would keep an eye out if a youngster needed a hand.

don't tell him someone referred to him as a youngster.

sarah_q Yes, I've seen trains there a number of times. they are not slow there at all and I'd personally question the safety of choosing to cross a live train track versus walking a bike through the chute. It's not a great example to set and bikes messing with trains will always lose.

Just my two cents.

Point taken about the RR crossing. I don't know... there are track crossings all the time (south side comes to mind) and I find myself portaging over tracks more often than I'd like. There are good sight lines there (better than the chute, ironically). OTOH, you're most definitely not wrong about bike v train.

I'll ask my husband. Personally I think the chute is dangerous, even on foot. My husband is a good counter point since he doesn't mind the chute. Your probability of survival from a chute crash >> train though, so there's that.

Trains aren't moving all that fast through there, maybe 30, 35 tops. Whether you get hit by a train or a Honda Fit, you're still dead. Crossing two sets of tracks is like crossing a 30, 35-mph street. Look both ways before crossing, and if there's something coming, you wait.

I only see a train around 620am on Friday mornings.

I usually cross the tracks headed toward oakland, but use the street headed toward town. I’ve only encountered a train twice and both times the train was moving at about 15mph and you could hear it from a fairly good distance. If you stress the need to look-both-ways TWICE and if you see or hear anything you wait - then I think the tracks are the safest option.

I have actually been stuck trying to cross the tracks near the CMU garage when a train has been stopped for an unknown reason. again, only Friday mornings. Also please make sure he knows to slow down to a crawl when going over wet tracks. I have seen people eat shit going 10mph

My husband has a nice scar on his left shoulder thanks to River Road so my son knows tracks are bad news. I'll remind him that dew can be a problem in the a.m. even when the road looks dry. Thanks.

I don't understant what the problems are with the street and chute. I have been ridning that for my commute for over 10 years with no problems. Stay on the road going towards town as you are downhill and traffic can't go too fast until after the end of the chute. Slow down if there is gravel.

Coming home, I ride in the chute swinging wide for the first turn and ringing my bell alot for the the 2nd.

Other than the 1st Ave Grant corner coming into town, riding downtown is not a problem. Not usually very busy when I come through just after 8, and all traffic is slow during afternoon ruch.

In a good news/bad news sort of update, I think I had heard that the CMU boiler facility was no longer coal powered, significantly reducing the number of trains on this section of track. That's the good news. The bad news is that the track is probably less frequently used, but use might be more spread out during the day, as they might not have timed deliveries. AND, trains might be moving slightly faster, without a stop imminent.

Bottom line. Stop, look, listen. Then look and listen again. Proceed with caution.

Will a 13 year old do this every time? Probably not. But learning to do things right and then manage the risk in NOT doing it right is part of what he will learn through this academic year (and beyond).

@sarah_q - I admire the fact that you care. The majority of parents just start handing the kid a car key after age 16 and expect everything to just work. Yours, having lots of on-road vehicular experience, will have a much more successful transition when that time comes.

@stu, come on now. The vast majority of parents care. They may hand over the car keys for any of a variety of reasons, perhaps most significantly not having any other transportation option to offer their child, who is state-sanctioned as being ready to drive.

@jonawebb I am not Stu but I'll bite. What Stu meant that most parents did not go with kids through night driving, rain& night, snow & ice. Did you teach your kids how to controlled skidding on a snow? Or signs of aquaplaning? Well, even a simple defensive driving is out of questions for most parents I know.

You know, that's not what he said. I just didn't want to get so far off into left field. And I didn't see anything about anyone, Sarah included, giving advanced driving lessons to their kids here, in any case.

@Mikhail & jonawebb, well if the parent doesn’t have or understand the requisite skill how are they going to teach their child? I had to teach the neighbor’s kid how to parallel park because neither she nor her husband know how. The kid learned in like ten minutes. I still can’t talk her mother into giving it a try because she head-in parks everywhere she goes so she doesn’t see the need to learn something she doesn’t have an immediate need for. Sigh.

@Marko, right. I was pretty much surprised when it turned out I was supposed to teach my kids how to drive. In FL, where I grew up, we had driver's ed, at the high school I attended, and everyone learned there, from actual instructors. But not here in PA. So people do the best they can, I guess.

sarah - looking and listening for trains reminds me, I'm not sure where you stand on the issue but if I remember being a teenager, you could have my earbuds when you pried them from my cold, dead ears. If he's going to have a sound track, it's worth extra emphasis to at least pause the beat to avoid becoming train pancake.

I always take the road rather than the chute unless I'm on foot. I've never really had a problem but I admit I don't do it often. In rush cars are usually jammed up, otherwise it's easy to hear/see them coming and avoid them just like most other traffic. But I'm irrationally more scared of trains than cars.

My son and I stopped to watch the steam train pass on the North Side on Sunday, he did not appear to be relentlessly drawn toward the train as the kid in War of the Worlds was toward the aliens. Seemed to behave just fine.

That was a horrible horrible part of that movie for me.

@Helen_s The chute is usually sandy. It's totally a blind turn. The first time I ever took it a guy on his bike came around the corner talking on his cell phone.

Coming out of the run the road is fine although that turn is usually really sandy.

I've raced people taking the turn vs hopping the tracks. Tracks are way faster.

@Marko82 If I don't have skills then I try to find either friend with skill or instructor/school, or even friend of my kid. It's amazing what teenagers can do.

I taught my friends and their kids to drive. And I taught my older daughter how to ride during night heavy rain -- we wait specifically for this type of condition and went on the road around midnight. Two years after she got her license ther was an opportunity with big snow and we went to empty parking lot (not cleaned) just to learn how car would behave in snow. And I cannot to persuade my younger one to learn how to drive. She plainly refuses to get her driver license.

But I differ between worry and carry. Carry in my mind (could be wrong here) it's when someone actively trying to do something to avoid bad situation or exit them gracefully. While worry part is all passive.

Sarah - I live right around the corner from you on Beechwood, and I ride through town on my way to work in McKees Rocks. If timing works out right, we could bike-pool into downtown - at least initially. Lately I've been going down Greenfield Ave to the JT instead of the other alternatives that you mentioned, but I've tried them all and don't have a problem with any of them. I could also accompany him to the end of the Ft Pitt bridge for the roadless option that Mikhail posted.

Mikhail, I like your word "carry" as an amalgamation of care and worry. It sounds just right for so many things. Not sure if that's where it came from, but that's how it strikes me just now.

May I ask, what's this "chute" thing being discussed? Is it the (single-width) concrete lane that wraps around second avenue at the south end of the Jail Trail?

Yes.

As of now he has no interest in driving and only wants to live in cities where he can walk/bike/bus everywhere. Of course he's so young I don't necessarily expect this to last.

He sneers at riders with no helmets or earbuds so I am completely confident that he won't ride with his iPod or without a helmet even if I am not there. He also hates seeing cyclists doing risky things reflect poorly on us (e.g. riding up on the left across a yellow line to get through stopped traffic).

Thank you @imdlorax but I can ride with him on mornings he wants to go so I think we are all set. But it's nice to know that the cycling community is out there watching out for him. Very reassuring.

I think the most rewarding part of this was playing Big Jilm for him just now. I always sing this coming out of Panther Hollow onto Saline St.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuMvqejrHzg

that is amazing.

"He sneers at riders with no helmets"

Maybe take him the next time you go to Amsterdam?

If this was Holland there would be no need for this thread.

So, has he started riding yet? How's it going?

a thirteen year old ween fan; oh the places he'll go.

wow - once in 3 years i fall behind reading the board and i almost miss a ween reference? that'll teach me.

fwiw, i think the same thing everytime i pass that place.

Public school starts Thursday. His orthodontist is downtown near the school so we are riding to his appointment today.

I think the first few days he is going to ride the school bus so he can stake out his territory and see who else is on the bus. The bus stops literally right in front of our house.

I think his plan for 8th grade is to bus some days/ride some days. In highschool (same building) he wants to bike commute mostly full time depending on the weather.

As for #2 — I started biking 6 miles each way to school on my BMX when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade LOL. There was much less fear in our society back then.

I grew up in the country but the ride involved roads where crazy drivers would speed 50/60mph past you. When I started we were very specific on which route I would take etc and it was more or less a once in a while deal but by the time I was in 5th/6th grade all the way until I graduated high school it was an almost every (warm) day thing and sometimes even in bad weather.

I remember having to carry a trombone home while riding my bike the last day of school in the 8th grade LOL.

My mom was DEFINITELY not without fear over it, and if we lived in the CITY things would have been quite different.

Sounds like your kid is a mature enough of a rider to handle it. I've had a hard time letting my teen do things on her own but at some point it is better to let them have those freedoms while they still live under your roof than to keep them in a "cage" and release them into the world when they turn 18 and they have yet to be in a position where they really have to make decisions for themselves and evaluate the consequences of those decisions.

Out of all the kids I grew up with, including myself — the "trouble makers" like me and all of us who did stupid things as teenagers ended up being more responsible as adults than the kids I know who were sheltered and turned into the party version of the "Tasmanian Devil" because they had no experience of the dangers of alcohol and all of those dangerous things.

I am not saying let your kids run wild and get drunk and do dumb things. I am just saying I had the parents who would prefer I be open with them and if my friends and I wanted to drink they would rather see us do it at our homes where they can make sure we were safe instead of driving drunk out on the roads. We all turned out responsible while kids I know who's parents kept them locked up in the house drank and smoked themselves out of college because they went completely wild once they got out of the cage.

Well he can't stand his bus driver (same guy as last year) so the motivation to bike just went up quite a bit.

We did the planned route to school yesterday but it was such a beautiful day we detoured on the way home and rode around all over the place. Such a fun way to spend the last day of summer with my kid.

@sloaps

Maybe he'll be an ocean man

@sarah_q

Ha! Annoying bus driver/students is the same reason I started riding my bike. (Also the fact that I frequently got up late)

Even though my bus drove behind my house, the driver wouldn't stop unless I was at the stop several blocks away and one time he literally drove around me and in response I flicked off the bus as it passed me.

Sarah q that's awesome. Savor those times.

This was AWESOME! My kid loved it. The highlight was when we were flying down the jail trail past stalled traffic on either side and he yelled, "ha ha we win!!!"

That’s all I ever think when going down the trail and there’s traffic on the highway. I wish I had a banner I could carry that said “want to get there faster? ride a bike.”

When I've been curising on the jail trail I definately rung my bell for stopped traffic on the Parkway. I've even gone up the ramp to the bridge just to make sure they saw me.

It was gratifying.

Cool kid.

Rock rock rock rock rock-n-roll high school!!!