Hailed as Canada’s most cycle-friendly city, Victoria is no stranger to bikes. With an estimated 27,800 cyclists across Greater Victoria, they’re such a common sight most folks hardly give them a second glance.
But one rider has done just that. Not just turning heads, but also sparking debate about the safest way to travel on two wheels while carrying a baby.
The cyclist, wearing their own helmet, was spotted Monday (Aug. 18) pedalling in the Government Street bike lane outside the Empress Hotel, with a baby strapped to their back in a harness.
The child, estimated to be around six months old, was not wearing a helmet.
“I was honestly shocked,” said a witness, who photographed the rider and child. “The little thing looked so young – one quick stop and its head would whip back.”
A parent of a toddler themselves, the witness – who asked to remain anonymous – said that while the rider appeared confident, they felt the risks posed by other users of the road were too great.
“I understand that they may have had a reason for choosing that method of transportation and been comfortable with it, but it just isn't safe," they said. “If someone was a player in an accident, everyone would be devastated."
By sharing the image, they hope others may think twice.
According to Victoria police (VicPD), there is no specific law in B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act that sets an age limit for when a baby can ride on a bicycle, either in a seat or a trailer.
"However, we encourage parents to educate themselves about bicycle safety and to choose the safest option for their child," said a VicPD spokesperson in an emailed statement.
What is clear under provincial law, police noted, is that all cyclists must wear a safety helmet on public roads.
For children under 16, parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring they wear one, whether riding themselves or travelling as a passenger.
VicPD added that if an officer had come across the cyclist, they likely would have offered education and may have considered issuing a violation ticket for the child not wearing a helmet or for carrying “more persons at one time than the number for which [the bicycle] is designed.”
While the police approach would have leaned in favour of a more educational response, people online were less forgiving.
Shared to Reddit, the image quickly drew dozens of comments.
“This is child neglect," said one Reddit user. "Where is the baby's helmet?”
“As both a parent and a cyclist, this looks both stupid and dangerous," commented another. "You fall wrong and baby bonks head ... also, that carrier is for walking, not cycling ... there are safer ways to transport a baby.”
While the online debate captured a range of strong opinions, safety advocates offer clear guidance when it comes to biking with young children.
Greater Victoria cycling advocacy group Capital Bike recommends parents wait until a child is at least 12 months of age before riding with them.
Once of age, children should travel in an approved bike seat or trailer with a seatbelt and helmet.
“The reason to wait until a child is at least 12 months is to avoid strain on their neck and risk of injury,” said executive director Coleen Sparks.
Similar advice is echoed by public health service HealthLink BC.
“Children younger than one year should not ride in any type of seat mounted on your bicycle,” the agency notes on their website. “Before sitting in a rear-mounted seat, your child must sit well without support and be able to wear a lightweight helmet.”
HealthLink BC also warns infants should never be carried “in backpacks or front packs” on a bike, and urges parents to stick to safe routes.
“Do not ride with your child on busy streets, even where there is a bike lane,” they say. “Try to ride in bicycle-only areas, such as recreational paths.”
For more advice about riding a bike with a baby or young child, visit: www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/child-safety-bicycles-and-tricycles.
