KIDS AND BICYCLE SAFETY

 

Kids and Bicycle Safety

Summer means ice cream and fireflies, cooking out, playing outside, and bicycling. Riding bikes was such a vital part of my childhood memory. We want our kids to be out of doors and enjoying the break from school, biking to see friends, or going on family bike rides.

Our job as parents is to make sure our children understand the rules of bicycle safety and that they’re wearing their helmets. Scraped knees, bumps and bruises are part of being a kid. We can’t protect our children from every little accident but we can do a great deal to make sure they are safe when bicycling.

The most important safety tool for bicycling is a helmet that fits properly and meets the Consumer Product Safety Standard. According to the NHTSA, wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of brain injury and head injury by as much as 85 percent. The statistics show that only 25% of children ages 5 to 14 are wearing helmets, whereas for teen riders it’s almost zero percent.  

A properly fitting helmet should be snug, worn level on the head without tilting back on the head or sitting low on the forehead. The chinstrap, made strong enough to sustain an impact, should be firmly fastened to ensure that helmet doesn’t move from side to side or slip up and down. 

Second in importance is making sure the bicycle is sized for your child. Have your child stand over the bicycle. According to the NHTSA, there should be 1 to 2 inches between your child and the top bar if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. Ensure the seat is level from front to back. Adjust the seat height so that your knee has a slight bend when your leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be aligned with the seat level.

Your next step is to teach children bicycle safety tips. The NHTSA has bicycle safety advice and activities geared to the age of your child. Tips include:

A. Don’t wear loose-fitting pants or have drawstrings or shoelaces that might get caught in the gears.

B. Don’t carry things in your hands; keep both hands on the wheels. Use a basket or backpack to carry items.

C. Be alert to things in the road like broken glass, rocks, or potholes that might cause the bike to fall over.

D. Wear brightly colored clothes. For night riding wear a reflective vest or strip on clothing. It’s important to remember that just because you can see a car doesn’t mean they can see you.

Our children look up to us and they copy our behavior. It’s part of our duty to teach them the rules of bicycle safety and to show them, by example, the importance of staying safe.

Rules of the Road

If your child is permitted to ride on the street, they must adhere to the following road rules:

1. Always ride with your hands on the handlebars.

2. Always come to a complete stop and look both ways for traffic before exiting your driveway, alley, or curb.

3. Cross streets at intersections. Avoid pulling out between parked cars, as drivers may not see you.

4. Dismount and walk your bike across busy intersections, using the crosswalk and following traffic signals.

5. Ride on the right side of the road, moving in the same direction as traffic. Never ride against the flow of traffic.

6. Use bike lanes or designated bike routes whenever available.

7. Avoid riding too close to parked cars to prevent collisions with suddenly opened doors.

8. Obey all stop signs and traffic signals, including red lights, just as vehicles are required to do.

9. Ride single-file when cycling on the street with others.

10. When passing other cyclists or pedestrians, always pass on their left and announce, “On your left!” to alert them of your approach.