Bike safety rules for kids, always wear a helmet, learn hand signals, be visible, watch out for obstacles, talking to your kids about bike safety
Owning a bicycle has long been a right of passage for children of all ages. From the youngest getting their first bike with training wheels, to teenagers acquiring the "˜newest and snazziest', all bike ownership brings with it a feeling of maturity and independence. After all, bike riding is all in the name of fun, right? Not necessarily, as responsibility needs to go along with any new bike. Take some time, and talk to your children before they even acquire their new set of wheels about the rules of the road. Once your child is a proud owner of a bicycle, don't ever let them forget these rules. Discuss them often, bring them up whenever the opportunity arises, and if one doesn't, make time for it. Bicycle safety and common sense go hand in hand, so make sure you know your child is ready and capable to follow these rules before letting them ride. Riding in a group is a great way to start, but even before doing this, they still need to be able to understand and know the rules, and to abide by them.
Getting kids to listen and learn these rules will be your biggest obstacle. Try to make the discussion fun, while making them understand that it is serious business. Bikes can and do contribute to kids deaths each year. Making them realize that you want them to learn the rules, abide by them, and still have fun, because you love and care for them can be a step in the right direction. If you just tell them that they must learn and abide by the rules for no other reason other than you say so can often lead to kids who are not really going to learn anything. These same kids will be the first ones to ditch their helmets the minute they are out of sight of parental eyes. Stress the importance of the helmet, as it is the single most important piece of equipment your bike-riding child will own, next to the bicycle itself. Taking the time to even teach them the proper rules is a step in the right direction.
Make sure the helmet is a proper fit, as an ill-fitting helmet can be nearly as dangerous as not wearing one at all. An ill-fitting helmet also can slip down causing a loss of vision, and this can be of the utmost danger. Also, make sure the helmet fits flat on top of your head, not tilted back. Helmet strap should fit securely. Remember, if the helmet you are using is involved in an accident, dispose of it and purchase a new one. While this may sound like a waste of money, consider it as money spent towards possibly saving a life. Once a helmet has taken a blow, there may be damage to the helmet that cannot be seen by the naked eye. This is one of those times where it is better to be safe than sorry!
Knee pads and elbow pads can also be worn, especially when first learning to ride.
Make sure your bike is in good working condition. Brakes and tires should be regularly checked.
Bike should be a proper fit for the rider. A bike that is too large for the person using it can hinder the response of the rider in a crucial situation. Adjusting the seat height to fit the rider from time to time, especially with a growing child, is a good way to make sure the bike and rider are a good fit.
Ride with the flow of traffic, not against it.
Make sure other motorists can see you both at night and during the day. Wear bright colors, and use reflective material on both your bicycle and clothing. Avoid riding at night, but if you do, bikes should be equipped with headlights.
As common sense as this will sound, make sure you can see where you are going. Watch out for obstacles in your path, such as potholes, rocks, and other debris. Watch out for traffic. Be especially aware in parking lots and wherever traffic is entering or leaving a space. Unseen vehicles, or not seen until it is too late, are often the cause of bicycle-vehicle accidents.
As in any driving, know and obey the rules. Hand signals need to be learned and should be used. Obey signs, such as "˜one way traffic' signs. Just because you are on a bicycle and not driving a car does not excuse you from following the posted signs. Stop at red lights, stop signs, yields, etc.
Never carry a second person on your bike unless the bike is specifically equipped to do so, such as an infant seat. If you are carrying a passenger in this manner, make sure and follow all guidelines and weight limits that are posted on the infant seat.
When leaving a driveway, crossing an intersection, or going across anyplace where there may be other traffic"¦Stop, listen, look to the left, look to the right, look left again, and exit or cross only when there is no other traffic. A quick glance instead of taking the time to look and listen can have very serious consequences.
Riding a bike is an enjoyable way to spend time with other family members, and this will also give you time to make sure that your children are learning the rules of the road, and following these rules. As stated before, go over the rules before the bike wheels ever see the blacktop, go over them again, then once you are sure they have been properly learned, and all protective gear is in place, start out slowly in a quiet area. Do not allow children to ride their bikes where traffic or other obstacles exist unless you are sure that they are ready!
