עברית
Halachot and Customs
Is It Permissible for Children to Ride Bicycles on Shabbat?
Question
Hello,
I was surprised to see in the Hiddurim Teshuva pamphlet by Rabbi Avraham Yosef that it is permitted for children up to age 9 to ride bicycles on Shabbat.
I was surprised because until now I always read that it is forbidden (except for tricycles for very young children) and I also saw on the Halacha Yomit website of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef that it is prohibited.
A Haredi colleague at work, who follows the rulings of Rabbi Avraham Yosef, told me that Bnei Brak is full of children who ride bicycles on Shabbat and that it is advisable to allow children up to age 9 to ride on Shabbat.
Until now, I have forbidden my children from riding bicycles on Shabbat.
And now I am confused whether I am acting correctly.
I would appreciate clarifications.
Answer
Hello and blessings,
I am originally from Bnei Brak and currently spend many Shabbats there, and we have never seen Bnei Brak filled with bicycles.
There is room for the ruling of Rabbi Avraham Yosef, but indeed most poskim forbid it, and this is how it has been the custom in most places—not to use bicycles on Shabbat.
Children's bicycles—tricycles—may be permitted for very young children.
With blessing,
Binyamin Shmueli
