With the weather warming around the country and kids clamoring to spend more time outside as we have more daylight hours, bike riding is a fun way to get some fresh air and exercise as long as everyone is safe. “It is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it’s a vehicle!” advises the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
{Disclosure: As a member of Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad, I received tips that inspired this post and do receive compensation for my involvement but all opinions are my own.}
Whether you’re the parent of a toddler exploring on three wheelers, preschooler with training wheels or balance bike, or have an older child who enjoys independent rides, ensure that lessons about bike safety are included as part of riding. Here are five quick tips about bike safety to be mindful of before you head out for a ride.
Check your equipment. A growing child needs properly fitting equipment in order to be safe. According to the NHTSA, bikes and helmets need to be adjusted to fit. Ill- fitting helmets won’t provide adequate protection. Local bike shops can take a look at your current helmets to ensure proper fit or the NHTSA provides a fit guide through easy steps to properly fit a bicycle helmet.
Be knowledgeable about the rules of the road. In many states, bicycles are considered vehicles and must abide by the same rules as cars. Teach children to go with the traffic flow, ride in the same direction as other cars, obey traffic laws- especially making full stops at stop signs, look before turning, and to stay alert at all times. Being alert means being able to use your eyes and ears to see and listen for potential hazards. Discourage older independent riders from listening to music as they ride as the use of earbuds prevents them from hearing traffic and alerts from pedestrians and other motorists.
Don’t assume that motorists can see you. Kids are small and consequently, their bikes are smaller than adult sizes that motorists are more inclined to spot. Ensure that others can see you at any time of the day by wearing bright colors, using reflectors, flashing lights, and even flags that will provide height for a child’s bike.
Protect your bike by locking it up. Cable locks tend to be the most popular their length and flexibility allows them to secure a bike around stationary objects. For other tips on locks and what to do if your bike is stolen, read my post on ways to keep you and your bike safe.
Model safe behavior. As parents, our kids look to us for guidance and if we want them to be safe, we need to model safe behavior too. They’ll be more inclined to wear their helmets, mind the rules of the road, and lock up their bikes if they see us engaging in the same behavior.
