Motivated by a near miss while biking with my 13 year old to school
I am now feeling unsettled with ever feeling ok about them biking to school independently. She very much wants this independence, and has proven herself to bike safely, and I very strongly feel she and all kids should be able to safely get to school inependantly. However it is another thing entirely to send your child out into imminent danger, where driver awareness of cyclist vulnerability seems completely absent.
In my experience positive change has the most power when it comes from those most affected and most vulnerable.
I wonder if there is any energy for a youth devision to spokes, where the youth could be supported in establishing a voice for themselves, and how this might work.
Thanks for getting in touch and reaching out, I’m very sorry to hear about your near miss experience with your daughter! Those kinds of experiences are extremely unsettling and often terrifying, and I completely understand and emphasise with your trepidation to sending children into our current street environment.
Within Spokes we have members riding with babies/toddlers right through to older kids, and I think we can all appreciate exactly what you’ve gone through, and, frankly, it shouldn’t happen. Making streets safer for cycling for all users, including young children and around schools, through infrastructure, safer speeds, and education, is a top priority for our group.
I completely agree that positive change has the most power through the voice of those most affected and love your idea of a youth division! If you’re comfortable coming to a Spokes meeting, we have regular social and more formal meetings monthly, and these would be a great time to discuss how we might be able to help make this happen. Our next social meeting is on the 16th November (18.30-20.00), it’d be wonderful if you could make it
Thanks again, and hopefully you have more positive cycling experiences soon!
Thank you for sharing your experience, and welcome to Spokes.
I’m sorry to hear about the near miss with your daughter. It’s understandable that an experience like that would shake your confidence, especially when you’re trying to support her independence while keeping her safe.
I really appreciate your suggestion of creating a youth voice within Spokes. Young people experience our streets differently from adults, and there is real value in ensuring their perspectives help shape the conversations and decisions that affect them.
We’d love to continue the conversation. As John mentioned, our next catch-up is on 16 November, and you are very welcome to join us.
If that date doesn’t work for you, please get in touch. We’d be happy to find another way to connect and explore your idea further.
Thanks Devonia and John
Unfortunately I am busy Monday evenings until 7.30 during term time
Happy to discuss another time or way whenever suits.
Also really happy for you guys to discuss how it might work without me being there.
For me, I think the focus would be that it’s youth lead, rather than us advocating on behalf of. But it might have to start like that.
I’d like to get my whole family to come along so you can hear their thoughts, there may be other kids who’s parents are part of group that could contribute too, which might be a nice starting point.
My phone number is 21 387 773. And can usually find time to talk most days.
I also know Fraser Steven’s whom told me about Spokes.
So can meet up through him if easier
