There are several considerations that you have to make before you allow your child to ride a bike to school. First of all, how old is your child? Under the age of at least twelve, a parent or guardian should accompany the child to school, no matter how safe the area where you live is. You also have to take into account the traffic conditions, and the safety of the crosswalks on the route to school. If you live in a big city, then sending your child to school on his or her bicycle is a potentially dangerous plan. After considering these factors, if you determine that riding a bike to school is still an option for your child, there are additional precautions that you must take to ensure his or her safety.
Wearing a high-quality helmet is absolutely essential. There should be no debate on this matter, regardless of how short the trip is. Many children complain that helmets are uncomfortable or unattractive, but wearing one must be a non-negotiable condition for riding a bike. If you have noticed that there are several neighborhood children who have been riding bikes without helmets, you should talk to their parents. It might seem intrusive, but in reality, they probably asked their child to wear a helmet, and they would appreciate your telling them that their child was not wearing one. If they become defensive, and you discover that a child’s parents are advocating bike riding without a helmet, then at least you tried. It is extremely unsafe to ride without a helmet, and it could lead to severe head injury or death. Too many parents have learned this lesson the hard way to allow this to be a negotiable issue. It is also critical that the helmet is worn properly – that it is the right size, and that it is tightly fastened each time your child wears it. Do not let your child just throw the helmet on without fastening the straps – that renders the helmet virtually ineffective. Talk to your children about the importance of this safety measure, and explain that you are trusting that he or she will not deceive you by taking off the helmet while riding.
Make sure that your child’s bike is the right size for him or her. If the bike is too big, your child is going to be prone to accidents and spills. If the bike is the right size, your child should be able to touch his toes to the ground enough to maintain balance while sitting on the seat. As your child grows, continue checking the seat level on the bike. If it is too low, then your child will be riding in an awkward position that is not as safe. The bike should also be adorned with reflective materials, a helmet, and fully-functional brakes. Attach a basket that is large enough for his school supplies to the bike, so that his or her hands are on the handlebars at all times. If your child will be riding early in the morning when the sun has not fully risen, then the bike should also have a headlight.
Your child should eat a healthy breakfast so that he or she is alert and awake on the ride to school. It is important that your child stays attentive to any hazards that may be in his or her path, such as a dog or a pothole. You should also make your child wear bright, reflective clothing, or at the very least a reflective jacket. Verify that your child knows to ride on the right-hand side of the street -- riding on the same side as traffic makes it easier for motorists to see bikers. You also have to teach your child about looking both ways before crossing a street, and using hand signals when appropriate. Rather than riding the bike across streets, tell your child to walk the bike across, and then resume riding once across. If your child rides to school with a group of neighborhood friends, make sure that they are all aware of the rule to ride in a single file line, not in a side-by-side group, or even two-by-two. Do not permit your child to listen to music while riding – they need all of their senses to be working towards the same task: getting to school safely. Take the trip with your child for the first week or so to ensure that he or she is following all the safety rules – better safe than sorry.
