It’s no secret that learning to ride a bike is a highlight in most kids’ lives. Coasting down the driveway with safety wheels keeping them upright is the first of many steps a child takes to become familiar with what forms the foundation for many future memories. Bicycling becomes more complex as your kid ages, as venturing beyond the driveway means learning and adhering to bike safety rules for public roads and traffic.
As a conscientious parent, you’ll likely benefit from bicycle safety tips while your kid’s still practicing. Here’s what to know before your child takes their bike outside your front gate.
Your child’s bike should never need them to stretch their legs and balance on tiptoes to stay upright when stationary. It’s wonderful to buy your kid a bike that allows for their growth, but its lowest seat position should let them stand flat on the ground when upright. If they’re stretching at all, the bike is too big.
The position of the bike’s handlebars is also suitable for gauging its size. Whether it is a BMX, chopper or racing bike style, your child must be able to sit upright and hold the handlebars with a slight bend in their elbows. After your kid has ridden for an entire summer, make a mental note to check the bike’s size when you wheel it out of the garage the following spring. You’ll be amazed at how much your beloved has grown.
Every person riding a bike should wear a helmet. However, more is involved than just putting a helmet on your kid’s head. It must be the right size, have a chin strap that tightens appropriately and feature a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tag. The helmet should preferably be new and, if secondhand, never have been involved in an accident. Throw away those that have.
To stress the importance of wearing the correct helmet, one of the most common reasons for summer visits to emergency rooms is bicycle accidents. These often result in head injuries and broken bones. Was your child’s helmet the right size and quality, though? The brain is exceptionally valuable, so ensure it’s well protected.
Along with the necessary padding, you must encourage your child to wear visible clothing when riding in public. Neon or fluorescent colors help them stand out, especially to drivers in larger vehicles on the road. At dawn, dusk and night, wearing reflective clothing highlights your kid’s presence even further.
Ideally, you don’t want your child riding on the road past dark, but the ultimate nighttime riding safety move is adding reflectors and a head and taillight to the bike. Stick the reflectors wherever you can, including the wheels, so drivers will identify the shape. Reflective tape positioned on the rear of a helmet can give approaching drivers a better impression of the cyclist ahead, but ultimately, it won’t guarantee safety at night.
Ideally, if you’ve got a bike, take some time to ride with your kid when they’re learning. Doing so means you can teach them the rules of the road and why they’re vital. It’s up to bike riders to protect themselves and not assume drivers know they’re there. The best way of doing so is by keeping in bike lanes and following traffic signs and road markings as other vehicles should.
Your kid must ride with the traffic flow, meaning staying on the far right side of the road. The age-old instruction “look left, then right, then left again” is still an essential rule when bike riding, and your child must know this by heart and use it. Young children should stay on the sidewalk when riding in public.
Unexpected things happen on the road at any moment. You must educate your child never to take their eyes off the street or let their mind wander. Teach them to be wary of cars backing out of driveways and running red lights. It’s better if they climb off their bikes at busy intersections and walk them across the street.
It’s just as important to be wary of would-be thieves who might see your child’s bike as a way to make money. Your kid must watch pedestrian movements when stopped at intersections or traffic lights and know how and where to pedal off safely if threatened.
As much as allowing your child to cycle on the road means you can reduce your carbon footprint by not driving them everywhere, they must understand the responsibility you’re giving them. Your kid should prove they know the rules of the road and how to apply them, wear appropriate clothing and a helmet without constant reminders, and be reliable enough to come home before dark. Only then should you allow them the privilege of riding without your supervision.
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