My child is driving on the pavement ...

My child is driving on the pavement ...

"As I was walking along the pavement with my 4-year-old daughter, a woman urged me to get her off her bike. I know that pavements are normally reserved for pedestrians. But what happens when a young child is involved, given that there was no cycle lane and the traffic was heavy?

According to the Federal Road Traffic Act and the relevant ordinances, pavements are reserved exclusively for pedestrians and cycle paths for cyclists. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule where young children are concerned. Children up to the age of 6 are not allowed to drive a "cycle" on the public highway, which is defined by law as a vehicle with at least two wheels, driven exclusively by the force transmitted to mechanisms by the persons sitting on it. Children's bicycles meet the aforementioned definition, but are not considered to be 'cycles' as defined by law, because they are specifically designed to be used by children under the age of 6. It should be noted that children over the age of 6 are only authorised to use a cycle in the legal sense of the term if they are able to pedal while seated.

Like roller skates, rollerblades and scooters, but unlike cycles and invalid chairs, children's bicycles are considered by law to be "vehicles", i.e. means of locomotion on wheels or castors powered solely by the muscular power of the users, who must observe the traffic rules in force for pedestrians. Children under 6 years of age may only use a child's bike on pedestrian traffic areas, i.e. pavements, footpaths or longitudinal strips for pedestrians, as well as within pedestrian zones. Children must be accompanied by an adult if they wish to use a cycle lane, or ride in a 30 km/h zone or a pedestrian precinct. This is also the case when, in the absence of a cycle path, pavement or footpath, a child under 6 wishes to use the carriageway of secondary roads, on the additional condition that traffic density is low at the time of use.

So when your daughter rides her bike alone, she has to use the pavement. Only if you go with her and there is no cycle path will she be allowed to ride on the carriageway if the traffic density is low, but she always retains the right to use the pavement.