Bike Safety For Kids Every Parent Should Be Aware Of by Dr. Chetan Ginigeri

A Few Bike Safety Measures For Your Kid’s Safety

As parents, it is our responsibility to teach them proper road safety, especially bike safety when teaching them how to ride bikes. The foundation we lay for them will stay lifelong in their minds. For this reason, we must teach them the following bike safety measures and rules.

The first thing is we have to be sure that your seat, handlebars, and wheels are secured tightly in place. If not, accidents are easy to occur.

You have to be sure that the bike is working properly and the chain must be oiled properly, to make sure that the wheels move smoothly.

Check the air pressure of the tiers, and make sure that there is no tear or air leaking. Also, make sure that the backpack straps, shoelaces, or anything else does not get caught anywhere on the bike.

Why Should Kids Wear a Bike Helmet?

Ask your kids to make it a habit of wearing a helmet while riding a bike. This not only protects their face, but also protects their head from brain injuries and concussions if they fall down. Set a rule for them to wear a helmet every time they ride if they are even going for a short ride.

Teach them these following rules:

• Always make the child wear a Bike helmet of their size, don’t make them wear oversize helmets because such helmets won’t be able to protect him properly at the time of any mishaps.
• Always opt for a helmet that covers their forehead entirely, as it is one of the areas where injuries are most likely.
• Explain to your child not to wear a helmet only for the sake of traffic rules. They should understand it is for their safety and you should help them choose the perfect one.
• The child should never wear a hat under the helmet as it may be dangerous and unsafe.
• You can add some reflective stickers on their helmet, and on the front and rear of the bike so that drivers can see it in the dark.

[Read: Head Injuries in Children]

What’s the Right Bike For a Kid?

Kids love bike riding as it makes them fit, active, healthy and also offers some much-awaited independence. We all know that kids never stay the same size. That is why choosing the right helmet for the bike is a big challenge for their guardians. But the right bike helmet is crucial to being able to ride a bike safely and with full confidence.

The most important thing we can do is to make sure that your kid is comfortable with the bike that you are purchasing for them. Don’t force them to choose a bike that they don’t like because being a kid they can change their mind once you get them back home. Also, don’t go for a better-looking bike if it means compromising safety.

What Should My Kid Wear When Riding the Bike?

Always make your kid wear nice and bright-colored clothes while riding a bike. Wearing easily recognizable clothing acts as a sort of reflector on the bike. It is easy for drivers to see the rider on the road. Another important thing you need to worry about is to not wear loose clothes or clothes with any kind of lace or fringes. This is because loose clothes have a high chance of getting stuck in the bicycle chain. Obviously, this will spell trouble, especially if the little one is on the road.

One of the most important things when riding a bike (particularly for beginners) is to have a good grip. Bicycling, mountain climbing, horse riding, holding something without dropping it; all require a good grip. This is why shoes or sneakers are greatly recommended when riding a bicycle. Heels (wearing them when you’re not bicycling is enough of a headache! ), flip-flops, or sandals might be very uncomfortable and the child won’t be able to secure their feet.

Now, this might be something you already figured out, but whatever you do, do NOT wear headphones when biking, and don’t let your children wear them, either, especially with loud music blasting through it. As you probably guessed by now, this is because they won’t be able to hear the honking of horns, warning them of their imminent danger.

Where is it Safe For My Kid to Ride the Bike?

A child can ride a bike in a safe area such as a park or biking path. But older children need to ride bikes on public roads. In such instances, you should encourage older children to ride on the right-hand side of the road as far as they can. Encourage them to ride as much as possible in the same direction as the traffic (as in one way).

What Road Rules Should My Kid Know For Riding the Bike?

Most of the kids are not aware of the traffic rules. The majority of parents reported that their children did not use hand signals or walk their bikes on sidewalks. It is parents’ responsibility to teach them to follow traffic laws as any vehicle would. These include:

1. How to Read and Interpret Road Safety Signs

Educating kids about traffic signals and signs are essential. Whenever you are driving, and your child is along with you, it is a great opportunity for them to learn about the difference between the red, green, and yellow signals. It is also important to teach kids about pedestrian signals since the icon of a person walking is most frequently seen at intersections. A basic understanding of road signs can form the basis for a long-term education that introduces a more comprehensive list of rules for road safety.

[Read : Road Safety For Kids – Rules Your Kids Should Know]

2. Teach Them How to Ride Bicycles Safely

Make children aware that bicycles are intended for single users. If a bicycle is overloaded, it will tip over and cause an accident. Remind your child to maintain lane discipline while riding. Encourage him to stay in his lane rather than changing lanes continuously. Most children love to ride their bikes in a zigzag pattern carelessly – this should not be encouraged. Teach them bike safety tips.

3. Urge Them to Make Use of a Bicycle Light

Especially in the evening or at night when it gets dark, your child should understand the importance of a bicycle light. In addition to the child having a better view of the road, bicycle lights will make them more visible to other motorists, reducing the chance of getting hit.

4. Children Should Ride Bicycles in Safe Zones Where Traffic is Minimal

Children should stay away from larger main roads. Kids should use cycle lanes whenever possible or stick to the extreme left of the road when cycling. Ask them to avoid cycling on wet or slippery roads.

5. Refrain From Using Mobile Phones

No one, whether adult or young, should use their mobile phones while driving or walking on the road. Teach this lesson to your children from a young age.

6. Traffic Lights Should Never be “Jumped”

A lot of the time, people tend to ignore traffic lights when they are about to change lanes or simply ignore them completely. Traffic accidents largely happen due to this behavior. Never let your child ride their bicycle to school in this manner. Make sure they understand traffic rules and follow them.

7. Children Should be Encouraged to Observe Their Surroundings

In addition, children should keep an eye out for people getting into or out of parked cars. Children riding bicycles get injuries every year when cars open their doors onto the street and hit oncoming bicycles.

To instill a habit in your children to stay safe, always follow the traffic rules and take every precaution which helps them to stay safe. It is the duty of every parent to give more focus to their children’s riding skills and restrict them from doing anything wrong. And most importantly, make sure your child KNOWS why you are so particular about traffic rules. While it is not wise to scare your child with horror stories, it is even more unwise to leave them oblivious to the dangers surrounding them.

FAQ’s

1. Is It Safe to Ride a Bike in Flip Flops?

The child will not be able to grip the pedals in sandals or flip-flops. Also, if they fall while wearing flip flops, or open-toed shoes, their toes and feet could suffer cuts or rashes.

2. Can You Cycle With Headphones?

Keeping an ear out for traffic keeps you aware of your surroundings. In public places, the sense of hearing is vital to avoid accidents. You lose your ability to hear and sense traffic when you use headphones. Cycling with headphones is therefore not recommended.

Read Also: Teaching Kids Public Safety