Teaching your child how to ride a bike is one of the
traditional joys of parenting. Family bike rides are a great way to bond and
spend time with each other. However, there are also many risks involved when
kids ride bikes. Children and young adults are involved in over half of the
most serious bike accidents across the country. Child bike safety is extremely
important.
What are the most important and effective parts of child
bike safety? As
Utah’s
Bicycle Accident Lawyers, we understand what kinds of mistakes lead to the
most accidents. Here are some of our tips on keeping your kids safe while
riding:
·
Always wear a helmet!
It is impossible to overstate the importance of wearing a
helmet. Children and adults should wear a Consumer Product Safety
Commission-approved helmet every time they ride a bike. You can know if your
child is wearing an approved helmet by checking for a sticker on the inside of
the helmet.
In addition, make sure that your
child’s
helmet fits and is fastened properly before they take off.
·
Wear the
right clothes
Ill-fitting clothing can result in bike accidents. A key
aspect of child bike safety is ensuring that no loose pants or untied shoelaces
will be tangled up in the bike chain while they ride.
Proper shoes are also very important. Closed-toe shoes like
sneakers with gripping soles will help your child’s feet stay on the pedals.
·
Ride a
bike that fits
Making sure that your child’s bike is not too small or too
big can play a big role in their safety.
Experts suggest
testing their bike’s size by comparing it to their height. Your child should
stand straddling their bike’s top bar. There should be about 1 to 3 inches of
open space between your child and the bar.
·
No flat
tires or sticky brakes
Flat tires and faulty brakes can make it difficult and even
impossible for your child to steer and control their bike. Fortunately, these
are both fixable problems. You should consistently keep up with the brakes and
tires on your child’s bike. You can
do
this yourself or take it into a local bike shop.
·
Obey the
rules of the road
Your neighborhood roads may seem quiet and safe, but it only
takes one careless driver or one mistake by your child to cause an accident.
Following road rules is crucial to child bike safety. You should teach them the
basics of road safety, such as:
o
Obeying stop signs
o
How to act at intersections
o
Looking both ways out of the driveway
o
Using both hands to control their bike
o
Exercising extreme caution around cars, whether
parked or moving
These tips are only some of the many ways that you can help
your kids stay safe while riding their bikes. Always remind them to use caution
and keep these things in mind.
We are experienced bike accident attorneys, who are
dedicated to helping injured cyclists. If you have any questions about bicycle
safety or laws, do not hesitate
to contact us.
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