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> Let's also not forget how incredibly empowering bikes are for kids, essentially they can get anywhere they want to if they can ride around on a bike. That's

> Let's also not forget how incredibly empowering bikes are for kids, essentially they can get anywhere they want to if they can ride around on a bike. That's true on paper, but note that in the outer suburbs, towns are usually small and kids would have to ride quite long distances (>10 km) to get anywhere useful. And winters here can be rough. Add to that narrow streets and careless drivers, and I can totally understand why you don't see many kids cycling.

cycomanic 5y ago
Are you talking about the Paris suburbs? Sure towns are quite small but in a 10km radius there are still more people than in many other places in Europe and e.g. the city where I grew up and we all always road around on bikes. 10km was not a large distance for us after turning 10-12. Regarding rough winters, I grew up in Germany and live in Sweden now, so saying winter in France is rough is quite funny (my French partner is laughing quite hard now)
- vladvasiliu 5y ago
  Right, I was talking about the parents' point of view. There are always rougher winters until you get to the north pole I guess, but that doesn't change the local people's perception. Also, do they leave the snow on the road, like in France, or do they clear it up? I've also heard Canadians (from Quebec) complain about the rough winters in Paris, so there's that. I don't know where you grew up in Germany nor am I familiar with the country, but the places I've visited (in Baden-Württemberg, around Schwäbisch Hall mostly) had amazing bike infrastructure, with paved paths in very good shape and several meters away from car roads, separated by grass, dirt, etc. I can see why parents would have absolutely no problem letting the kids bike around these paths. Also, drivers seemed much less crazy than around Paris.
matthewfcarlson 5y ago
I grew up in a smallish university town (USA) and have lots of fun memories biking around. It was three or four miles to downtown along a river with a trail through the woods most of the way there. Thinking back it was awesome to be able to go down to grocery store or the downtown when I was 12-16.

cycomanic 5y ago

Are you talking about the Paris suburbs? Sure towns are quite small but in a 10km radius there are still more people than in many other places in Europe and e.g. the city where I grew up and we all always road around on bikes. 10km was not a large distance for us after turning 10-12. Regarding rough winters, I grew up in Germany and live in Sweden now, so saying winter in France is rough is quite funny (my French partner is laughing quite hard now)

vladvasiliu 5y ago
Right, I was talking about the parents' point of view. There are always rougher winters until you get to the north pole I guess, but that doesn't change the local people's perception. Also, do they leave the snow on the road, like in France, or do they clear it up? I've also heard Canadians (from Quebec) complain about the rough winters in Paris, so there's that. I don't know where you grew up in Germany nor am I familiar with the country, but the places I've visited (in Baden-Württemberg, around Schwäbisch Hall mostly) had amazing bike infrastructure, with paved paths in very good shape and several meters away from car roads, separated by grass, dirt, etc. I can see why parents would have absolutely no problem letting the kids bike around these paths. Also, drivers seemed much less crazy than around Paris.

matthewfcarlson 5y ago

I grew up in a smallish university town (USA) and have lots of fun memories biking around. It was three or four miles to downtown along a river with a trail through the woods most of the way there. Thinking back it was awesome to be able to go down to grocery store or the downtown when I was 12-16.