Family Bike Rides (Even If You’re Nervous)

We are not a Lycra-wearing, helmet-cam kind of family. We are a slow, bell-ringing, snack-stopping, cautious kind of family.

And for a long time, I was too nervous to ride on city streets. I wanted my kids to ride safely. I wanted to ride with them. But I didn’t know the rules. I didn’t know the routes. And I definitely didn’t want to be that mom pedaling anxiously in traffic while trying to yell instructions up ahead of her.

So we started small. Bike paths. Empty parking lots. Quiet neighborhood loops. We practiced stopping, hand signals, and how to look both ways at every single corner. We built up little by little, and eventually, something kind of amazing happened. Our confidence grew, and so did our list of favorite spots.

Now biking is one of the best parts of our homeschool rhythm. It’s a reset button when the day goes sideways. And yes, it’s still sometimes chaotic, but we laugh more than we yell, and the kids feel proud of what they can do.

🚴‍♀️ What This Series Is

This is the start of a new blog series for families who want to ride together but feel a little unsure. I’ll share:

• Tips for teaching your kids the rules of the road
• Gear we’ve found helpful (and what we skip)
• Safe Bay Area bike trails we love
• How to ride with multiple kids (and not panic)
• A few little adventure logs, just for fun

You don’t have to be sporty. You don’t have to ride far. If you can roll down the driveway, you can start.

Next Up:

• “Where to Ride When You’re New to Biking”
• “Bike Safety Basics for Kids (That You’ll Actually Use)”

If you have a question or a fear you want me to write about, email me or say hey in the comments. I’d love to hear what’s stopping you so we can talk about it.