Riding a Bike to School Advantages and Disadvantages for Kids

There was a time when the pick-up line at school was shorter. Instead, communities would be flooded with kids walking or riding bikes to school. But these days, parents need to look at riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages before letting their kids free in the world.

Riding a Bike to School Advantages and Disadvantages for Kids

Riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages, and helps parents weigh the options for their kids and their own mornings. Cycling or bike riding is a low-impact exercise kids can do. It’s a win/win situation because kids see bike riding as a fun activity.

But parents know that their children are essentially doing cardio. But biking is also a form of transportation. People worldwide ride bikes to and from work, school, or any fun activities they may want to attend. Then there is the tradition of riding bikes to school for kids.

However, parents have slowly stopped allowing their children to ride their bikes to school due to safety concerns. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being safe. But maybe we all should consider the advantages and disadvantages of riding bikes to school before making a decision.

Exercise

There are plenty of riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages for kids. But one of the most obvious advantages is exercise. Riding a bike is low-impact cardio, which is always a good thing. Cardio is often looked at as a way to lose weight.

But cardio actually stands for “cardiovascular,” meaning heart-related. Strengthening our cardiovascular system increases stamina, helps build strong bones and muscles, and can even help reduce depression and anxiety.

The health benefits alone should be worth reconsidering, allowing kids to ride bikes to school. However, there are more benefits. 

Spending Time Outside

Allowing our kids to ride bikes to school means they will be spending more time outside. Outdoor time can help reduce anxiety and depression, just like cardio. It also removes structure from their playtime. Removing that structure while still creating boundaries can help kids grow more confident.

That confidence leads to decision-making and responsibility.

Safer Than Cars

When parents discuss riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages for kids, safety is the top concern. However, riding a bike is far safer than riding in a car. In fact, statistics show us that there are more car accidents than accidents involving bikes.

There are possible falls which wouldn’t happen in a car. But that is what wearing a helmet is for. ProLids helmets will help protect a child’s head in the event of a fall. Essentially, riding a bike may cause some injuries here and there, but nothing as major as the injuries sustained from a car accident.

Saving Money

We can’t discount the amount of money and time parents will save. Driving kids to and from school takes time and gas, which means money and money. But ditching that responsibility and allowing kids to ride bikes to school eliminates those costs.

Finding ways to save money is basically a parent’s job. This is an easy one that also includes exercise, health, and responsibility. 

Danger Assessment

Another advantage to kids riding bikes to school serves as both one of the riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages for kids. A parent’s job is to teach their children to be responsible and safe and make the right decisions.

But keeping kids completely away from every danger does the opposite. Some kids may not learn how to assess dangerous situations if they haven’t had the practice. Of course, we don’t ever want our kids to be put in dangerous situations.

We can teach them how to handle those situations and then allow them to make safe decisions independently. 

Riding a Bike to School Disadvantages

Dangerous people can be in any town or city. Kids may not be aware of those dangers, and we don’t want them to be. But parents need to teach their children that not everyone is nice and how to handle those people.

Still, there is no way to ensure that these situations don’t arise; all we can do is teach them and hope for the best.

Weather Challenges

One of the less obvious riding a bike to school advantages and disadvantages for kids is the weather. School happens during the fall and winter months, which means rain or snow. Kids may get used to riding their bikes to school and then get bothered by when they can’t due to the weather.

Parents must make the judgment call here to ensure their kids don’t catch a cold or get sick.

Distance

Another disadvantage of kids riding a bike is the distance. Of course, the more exercise they get, the better. But we can’t ask children to ride bikes for long distances to and from school. Distance plays a big role, so riding a bike to school is not for everyone.

Parents will need to figure out if the distance is too far for their kids before asking them to do it on a daily basis.