Would you let an 11 year old ride his bike 1.5 miles to see a friend?

[amdhunter]

According to the Internet there are child predators every 100 feet.
Keep your kid inside the house and never let him out.

















Or let him be. Your choice.

 

[Conscript]

I wouldn't hesitate to let him. Much safer today than when we were kids, now that all the weidos are here at ATOT

 

[Jadow]

i think most predators are sitting at home preying upon the internet. they're not cruising the streets anymore.

 

[amdhunter]

i think most predators are sitting at home preying upon the internet. they're not cruising the streets anymore.

A/S/L?

 

[darkxshade]

Get the child a GPS locator and send him off if you want to hedge against the slim chance of abduction.

 

[sa7an1]

At his age I had a dirt bike and the ability to make it many many many (with gas stations) miles away, also the possibility of crashing in the woods miles away from anything (A few years later I had my 4 wheeler land on me in a stream and had to lift it off to get my head out of the water (Yamaha Blaster... luckily a smaller quad))

That being said yes, I would.

 

[T9D]

My parents literally let me run around and play in train yards when I was 10. In Benicia California of all places. I'd go to work some times with them and just wander around a huge industrial area and walk the train tracks. Busy train area too. At 5 years old I'd walk to and from school alone. And after school I'd walk all around town and the parks.

You are all raising kids that are going to be completely dependent frightened pussies that can't do anything for themselves.

 

[DrPizza]

Yes, I'd let my kid ride that far at that age - younger even. And, as my kid grew up, he was aware that a lot of the other kids with helicopter parents grew up to be pretty helpless people.

 

[uclaLabrat]

When I was 12, I was riding to school every day, 7 miles one way along the second busiest thoroughfare in our town of approx. 60K

 

[alkemyst]

Just for the record folks, today even Highway patrol get rear-ended while pulled over on the shoulder with full flashers writing a ticket.

1.5 miles is not far, but it really depends what they have to cross.

In my day we had nice overpasses at major intersections to schools, today that doesn't really happen.

Meanwhile, kids are growing up today with the whole YOLO / etc thing...I am a recent parent so I am trying to right size the bullshit/dogma taught; but it's hard work.

 

[shortylickens]

When I was 8 I used to get on the bike and be gone all day and rode farther than most people drive to get really good sushi.

I feel sorry for america. Parents only want schools to act like daycare for them, they coddle and shield kids and then wonder why they cant deal with anything.

Real life is gonna be such a shock for them.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

DP

 

[Sho'Nuff]

What neighborhood is it? I'll have my windowless van there ASAP.

Not before I have my ice cream truck full of rapesicles there!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Depends on location. The south is where all the bad things happen like child abductions and crazy car accidents, so I probably would not, but in the north where there's less people and less violence or problems, sure. I was probably like 8 and I could pretty much leave the house alone, just had to ask permission.

About the only thing to worry about here is bears, and that's not really a big deal compared to down south where there are shootings and stabbings all the time.

Though back when I was a kid there was way less violence too. Even here there are stabbings every now and then. It's gotten pretty scary.

 

[soulcougher73]

Yup. Makes you strong and handle life.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I would think in today's world it's even more ok. Kids should be pretty well educated compared to when I grew up in the 80s (and rode my bike for miles). It's not like child predators just started walking the earth. We're just aware of them now. Communication is definitely not a problem either.

 

[Markbnj]

In my day we had nice overpasses at major intersections to schools, today that doesn't really happen.

In my day (I'm assuming we mean, roughly, elementary school, so this would have been the 1960's), I walked about a mile to school each way, crossing a main road (Twelve Mile Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI). Today there is a lot more traffic, obviously. The density of all population and activity has increased. I do think kids today are missing out on something important, but it is not easy to judge just how much things have really changed in 50 years. A shitload, is the safe answer.

 

[Ronstang]

Of course. When I was 11 I used to ride my bike 8 miles to Sun Valley Mall and then back several times a week during the summer. I even road my my bike the 15 miles from school to the reservoir and back.

 

[angminas]

If somebody hasn't taught their 11yo to be able to safely bike 1.5 miles each way, they suck as parents.

 

[BUTCH1]

I'd say yes, you've probably already taught him to keep his distance from anyone he doesn't know and the phone gives him a way to 911 if some creep-o comes along.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Its a shame that pedophiles are rather prevalent these days, therefore you should be careful. Im sure he knows not to talk to anyone. Even when abduction doesnt come into play you have exhibitionists driving around asking for directions just to 'show' themselves to anything that gets them off. A few have been sought by police in this area and if caught face a state jail felony. They are the worlds dumbest criminals because 99% of women, kids, etc, walking around these days have cameras on them and can take a picture /video of the offender or car and can call the cops on the spot.

I think its a good idea to let him get out and explore a little. Just give him some precautions and tell him to keep in touch when he gets there and when he is heading back. It is also a good idea to know the route he takes just in case you have a feeling that you need to check up on things at any time.

 

[John Connor]

 

[ViRGE]

:thumbsup: If I didn't care I wouldn't worry and I wouldn't have posted this thread. Guess I'm just being overly paranoid.

It's good to be concerned about your kids. Too many people these days are not. You just have to know when to let go.

 

[edro]

I would let him, but then again, it's not my son.

We'll see how I feel about it in about 10 years.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I rode my bike to school, about a mile, and my best friends place was 2 miles away. My parents were cool with me riding over as long as I called them when I reached (easier with cell phones nowadays). The only restriction was that it was during daylight/evening so it wasn't dark out.