Kids' Bike Safety Tips
Biking is an enjoyable activity for many kids and can be a great form of exercise. Biking can also be an important means of transportation for kids, as well. When kids bike, teach them that safety rules must be followed. By learning and following simple rules, kids can stay safe while biking.
-
Helmets
-
Require that kids wear helmets when bike riding. According to kidshealth.org, half a million children are injured seriously every year in biking accidents. Most of these injuries would have been minimized if the child had been wearing a helmet. Involve your kids in choosing colorful, well-ventilated helmets. Have them fitted properly at the store before purchasing. If children pick out a helmet, they may be more cooperative in wearing it. Make sure the helmet straps stay adjusted properly and that the child buckles the straps every time the helmet is worn.
Bike Fit
-
Make sure that the bicycle properly fits the child. Have the child stand over the bicycle and check to see where the top bar of the bike reaches on the child. There should be 1 to 2 inches of space between a road bike and the child and 3 to 4 inches of space between a mountain bike and the child. The seat should be placed at a height that allows the knees to be slightly bent when at the lowest point of the pedal rotation.
Be Visible
-
Encourage children to wear bright colors when biking. Bright neon colors are the most visible, both day and night. Consider adding strips of reflectors to backpacks or jackets. Discourage night biking. Drivers often do not see bicyclists at night. If night biking cannot be avoided, place reflectors on the front and back of the bike and on the tires. Add a flashing light to the rear of the bike and a strong headlight to the front of the bike.
Rules of the Road
-
Teach children the rules of the road and make sure they follow them. Bicyclists should ride on the right side of the road and travel with traffic. A bike rider is required to follow all of the same road rules that cars follow. This includes stopping at all stop signs and stop lights. Children should also be taught the proper hand signals so that they can signal their intentions to other vehicles around them.
Stay Alert
-
Bicyclists need to stay constantly alert to conditions around them. This includes road conditions, traffic conditions and their own bike conditions. Teach children to look far enough ahead in the direction they are biking so that they can plan their actions as much as possible. Bicyclists should never distract themselves with personal audio devices or cell phones while biking.
Young Children
-
Children under 10 years of age are generally not considered mature enough to bike independently on streets. Teach young children to bike on the sidewalk if it is allowed in your community. Even on the sidewalk, however, children need to be taught to be alert to vehicles, pedestrians and hazards.
-
