Trend Alert: Family Cycling

All over the world, we are seeing that family biking is becoming more trendy. There are many reasons for this, and they are all positive. So why is it becoming so trendy?

The Various Benefits of Cycling

There are currently various blogs, Facebook pages and other online groups that promote the benefits of cycling. Not only do these groups give you great tips on days out with the family and how to keep safe but they can also allow you to build a new network of friends and acquaintances. Plus, these trips can also let you see a bit more of the world.

Secondly, the reality is that bikes are convenient. A lot of people now have baskets and carriers, which means that trip to the grocery store no longer has to be done in your car, particularly if you go with the family and therefore have multiple bikes and carriers to use.

People of all age groups, ethnicity, gender, culture and economic background now use bicycles. Everybody, from politicians to junior school pupils, are now using their bikes. Interestingly, we are all seeing a larger number of senior cyclists. Taking the grandchildren out for a bike trip is a great idea.

Additionally, family biking sets an example for future generations. When you go out on a bike ride with the kids, they are more likely to grow up into adults who understand the importance of movement and going green. Both elements need some further exploration.

Meanwhile, the importance of physical movement cannot be denied. Obesity is a true epidemic in our country and the developed world as a whole. One of the reasons for this is because many are leading sedentary lifestyles. If you are obese, you have a bigger chance of your child developing obesity as well. By going on family bike rides, therefore, you are changing the present for the better, and you are shaping a healthier future.

The same can be said for going green. There are various reasons why not using the car as a family is a great idea. Firstly, fuel prices continue to increase, as the world is running out of fossil fuels. This means that if you take the bike instead of the car, you save quite a bit of money. Most importantly, however, you help the environment. You do this firstly by using less fossil fuels and, secondly, by having fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Interestingly, we are also seeing that family bike rides have the effect of increasing community activism. Various communities are now coming together to create areas that are safe for cyclists and pedestrians and that are cleaner and greener for everybody. This is something the whole family can get stuck into. Furthermore, this is no big change for many people. After all, the speed limit in most residential areas is 20 miles per hour, which is a snail's pace when you are in a car. However, it is a wonderful speed on a bicycle, and you will actually feel as if you are getting places more quickly. The 20 miles per hour rule is an important one, as it can literally mean the different between life and death if someone is hit by a car.

What many families are also saying is that it allows them to get to know the place in which they live. When you ride a bike, you go slower by definition, which gives you the opportunity to look around. This is a great thing to get the kids involved in, who could, for instance, go on a mission to find street art while riding a bike. This means you again build up that community feeling and pride in the place you live in. Furthermore, it is an educational activity for the whole family as well, getting to know the past and present of the place you live in.

A final great benefit is that you never have any problems in parking your bike. Although this is perhaps not directly related to riding as a family, some say there is a link. After all, not having to look for parking means less stress, and most people inadvertently take their stress out on their family. With a bike, you simply stop exactly where you want to be, lock up and you are ready to enjoy your destination. This means you get to spend a lot more quality time with the family as well, instead of wasting time finding an expensive parking spot that could be three blocks away.