There are many virtues extolled about getting out those BMX bikes and heading for the ramps (or the track for those with a racing BMX), but one that is not as commonly discussed, is quite how social a sport it is.
Maybe this is for fear that gangs of people riding around on these diminutive cycles will instil fear within people and lead to nothing but trouble, a fear that is extremely far from the truth. In fact, communities who have skate parks and ramps for those who want to ride BMX bikes are actually not only actually safer, but also feel safer too.
The reason that people don’t feel safe when gangs of youths parade around their neighbourhoods is simply the fear of the unknown. Whilst there are young people who will want to cause trouble (there are also many adults who love to cause trouble, but we never talk of these in such disparagingly stereotypical terms), the majority of youngsters will actually be not only benign, but probably even benevolent. The social aspects of freestyle and racing BMX are in fact ones that will give even those less benevolent youngsters somewhere to focus their energy and time.
The benefits of the sport are still numerous, and the social aspects aren’t just about making communities feel and be safer, but instead it is about helping youngsters feel some sense of community and allowing them to easily integrate into groups with shared goals and interests.
It can be one of the most rewarding sports around and, far from letting your child become some absent wanderer who can never be found, the chances are you will actually know exactly where they are instead (even if that seems like some cynical underhand goal). Ultimately the benefits of the sport remain numerous, and therefore its virtues should continue to be extolled as loudly as possible.