2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek is Underway

What are your thoughts on shared parenting? My view is that as long as both parents are fit to raise their children, they should be equally involved. Note, though, that I don't think that has to necessarily mean 50/50 shared custody. Clearly, that's an arrangement that works for some families, but is not well-suited for others, due to the unique needs and temperaments of individual children, school schedules, and various other complications.

But while I think a heavy dose of pretty-darn-close-to-equal-parenting-time is beneficial, regardless of whether the parents share physical custody or not, it doesn't always work out that way. Too many parents choose to be uninvolved in their kids' lives, or -- perhaps even worse -- to be inconsistently involved.

Then there are parents who seek joint custody in an effort to lower their child custody payments. Think that incentive is pure myth? Michigan's The Detroit News, in an article titled Michigan Dad Fights for Joint Custody Law reports that having as few as 128 overnights can lower a non-custodial parent's child support obligation by as much as 40%.

Sadly, though, such manipulation of the system has caused many dedicated, loving, non-custodial parents to fall through the cracks.

This summer, a group of five dads is fighting back. They're participating in the Equal Parenting Bike Trek, which began this week in Lansing, MI, and will conclude with a rally in support of equal parenting in Washington, D.C. on August 15 and 16, 2008. According to the blog cycling4children.com, the ride is approximately 758 miles, and supporters are already working behind the scenes to prepare for next year's event.

Related Resources:

• What's Your Opinion on Shared Parenting?
• Shared Parenting Myths
• Consistent Co-parenting Tips

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