Cycling in Brisbane Australia
Under 12s not permitted in Great Brisbane Bike Ride
Good to see this Ning started.
I was disappointed to see that Under 12s are not permitted to participate in the GBBR. We have 2 such candidates who are well able to do 30kM and one of them did about 60 a couple of years ago riding from Mt Gravatt to the event and back again over 11 hours with plenty of breaks.
BQ advise me it is their stakeholders, (police, state govt. ) who have made this a condition.
Our kids have been riding to school on the road for a number of years and have developed good road sense and are well supervised.
They and I am sure many others look forward to the GBBR which is a great incentive for them to use their bikes and train for it.
I find that this is a backward step if we are trying to encourage people to get their kids to use bikes for transport.
I realise there are safety issues but these could be managed, such as letting the families start a bit later to reduce the numbers of less experienced cyclists in the initial rush, etc.
I was disappointed to see that Under 12s are not permitted to participate in the GBBR. We have 2 such candidates who are well able to do 30kM and one of them did about 60 a couple of years ago riding from Mt Gravatt to the event and back again over 11 hours with plenty of breaks.
BQ advise me it is their stakeholders, (police, state govt. ) who have made this a condition.
Our kids have been riding to school on the road for a number of years and have developed good road sense and are well supervised.
They and I am sure many others look forward to the GBBR which is a great incentive for them to use their bikes and train for it.
I find that this is a backward step if we are trying to encourage people to get their kids to use bikes for transport.
I realise there are safety issues but these could be managed, such as letting the families start a bit later to reduce the numbers of less experienced cyclists in the initial rush, etc.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Reggie on -
Lame advise from BQ. They should have outright said NO, we don't want to be accountable for minors. Parents or guardians can petition for waivers.
-
Permalink Reply by Ian Lister on -
I couldn't agree more. There are a significant number of schools (and parents) around that don't want their kids cycling because it's "dangerous", but ignore the fact that far more kids are killed and seriously injured being driven (either in their own driveways or by their own or other parents at the school).
If BQ has had this condition imposed by other stakeholders they shouldn't have any reason to hide exactly which agency imposed it. Let us know if you find out, and maybe they can be convinced of the error of their ways (by next year, at least).
-
Permalink Reply by Ian Lister on
-
See this article about some schools' worrying attitudes (in the UK).
-
Permalink Reply by Katy Cassidy on -
i would see a problem with kids up at the front, but i'd see a problem with ME up at the front. in foot races, strollers and family types are to line up at the end. that makes sense. also, people should know their paces and line up accordingly.
small children who wobble, okay. but 12? i used to teach year 4s. i know plenty who could keep up. i think if the child is at the age to know left and right and understand basic road rules--ride on the left--they are okay to ride. it's a perfect community event to show how important sharing the road is.
i cannot abide by this "dangerous" thing. i see parents walking against the red man with their kids. parents walking with kids and a loose dog. i also see parents riding with their kids but letting their kids ride all over the pathway. both are teaching dangerous habits. the act of cycling is not dangerous. disregard of rules, the ones that allow for safe walking, cycling, driving, etc, is.
-
Permalink Reply by John Nightingale on -
Last time I helped out with the GBBR the ride seemed to have so many families that it really was a family affair, and they were all having fun. A trailer with a pair of littlies did capsize at Yeronga, but no harm done. I wonder whether the numbers on the ride have increased to an extent that families aren't necessary. BQ should explain, but that might be asking a bit much of the management.
-
Permalink Reply by Reggie on
-
Hang on a sec, they do allow children up to 17 years*. However, with an unfortunate restriction befalling on those exactly 12 years of age. It would be like being underage for the Olympics, but they can still wait 4 years later. With the GBBR, it won't be that long of a wait.
*Children under 12 must not pilot their own bike on the Great Brisb...
Michael Cahill, it's not fair to seem to imply that GBBR is excluding families or discourage children to participate, because they do have an event targeted for families- The Goldcross Family Fun Ride (12km). "A tandem rear, tagalong, trailer or child seat is permitted. Children under 16 at the time of the event must be accompanied by an adult. Persons under 18 require consent to participate" - still sounds like fun to me!
Deets on the website
-
Permalink Reply by John Nightingale on
-
Many families have always done the 30 or 45k rides, so the cut-off of 12yr old for riding your own bike is perhaps a year, even two, older than might have been chosen, esp for the 30k. But numbers might have got a bit much to deal with youngsters on bmxs who sometimes ride quite way ahead of parents who might not be able to keep up.
© 2013 Created by DamianM.
