Is 20 minutes too far?

[Phteven]

We're moving to a new home and a new school over the next few weeks. The new school is about a 20 minutes bike ride along a bike path over fairly flat ground.

Too far?

[~TT40~]

I don't think so. in fact I would call that a perfect ride time

[Nai]

No, sounds perfect. DD1's friend rides about 15-10 mins each day with a tough hill in there and she is 7.

[Tinks]

I don't think it's too far.

[LimeSlice]

Nope, sounds good to me!

[Rouge]

Totally fine.

[PumpkinZulu]

Like everyone else, it sounds perfect.

[xXHopeXx]

Personally I think it depends where I am and where my child would have to ride, and how old they are as to whether id be comfortable. Around where I live id be comfortable, nearly no matter how far they had to ride, and from a younger age too, but other suburbs close to me I wouldn't be at all until likely high school. Simply because there's been abduction scares.
Ultimately it depends how *you* feel on it. Maybe if you are uneasy you could drive him or he could catch a bus until you're all more used to the area?

[AnyDream]

It depends. What is the route home like? Does it go past dodgy spots like pedestrian underpasses, or parks that suspect people hang around in? Or are they suburban streets full of people at that time in the afternoon? Are there any safe spots along the route where the kids could stop if they needed to? I'm inclined to err on the side if caution because kids at schools in our area have been approached by "strangers", and 20 min of bike riding is a fair distance from home.

(ETA- all the above said on the assumption that kids will be riding by themselves, without a parent or a group of kids together. Distance of itself for riding, not a problem).

[nickle730]

When I read your initial post, I assumed you would be riding with your child/ren! What age/s?

[Rouge]

Oh ditto. I thought you were going to ride too. Yeah no. Not without supervision.

[wysiwyg]

20 mins length wise is fine, as for on own or not depends on your kids, the path, other users of path etc. As is a new area to you if intend them to ride alone would have to do a fair few times with them to assess.

[Amity]

I would.

[Phteven]

Obviously I will ride with them to start with. When I think they are mature enough they can do it solo but TBH it's in Sydney which is full of freaks so they might be mature enough at say....... 19?

[Rouge]

As long as they are microchipped.

[Jennifer13]

We take a bit longer than that to walk to school. It's a lovely way to start the day. Unless you're riding through ... certain parts of Sydney.

[peanutter]

I had a 2km walk each way, from 4yo, with a big hill... no problems here