Bicycle Safety Tips for the Young Ones

Bicycle riding increases during the warm weather months.  This means an increase in the possibility of accidents for kids, according to the Reno Police Department.  That's why parents should take the time to teach their children the rules of the road as well as bicycle safety to ensure that their children can enjoy the beautiful outdoors while being vigilant of possible safety hazards.  Here are some things to keep in mind as bicycle safety tips for the young ones.

What you as a parent should know - Kids don't typically have the ability to handle traffic by themselves safely until they are around 10 years old.  Since boys tend to take more risks than girls, they are also more likely to get hurt or killed on a bike.  Because bikes are considered vehicles, children should learn the rules of the road and not be allowed to ride on their own until they can demonstrate that they are fully aware of these rules.  Make sure your children know that, just because they can see a driver doesn't mean the driver can see them and that cars take some time to stop, unlike a bicycle that can stop right away.

Look for good, safe places that children can walk or ride their bikes, such as playgrounds, trails, parks and fenced yards.  They should stay away from driveways (where cars can back up without seeing them), streets and parking lots.  Become an example of safety while riding your own bike as well as driving in your car so that children can see what is expected when they are on their own.  This is a good opportunity to teach them the rules of the road and bicycle safety as well.

Fit the bike to the rider - Getting a bike that your child can "grow into" is not a good idea safety-wise.  To determine whether a bike is the right size, the child's feet should rest flat on the ground with knees straight when they are sitting on the seat.  There should also be a couple of inches of space between the top bar and the child's crotch when straddling the bike.

Bike helmets are a must- This should be a "given", but many kids as well as adults don't wear helmets.  A correctly-fitted bicycle helmet reduces head injuries by as much as 85%.  Helmets should also be worn when skating, skateboarding and other sports that could easily result in a head injury.  Having the child choose their own helmet and explaining that, just like football or race car driving, a helmet is part of the "uniform" to ride will help encourage them to always wear their helmet.  Praise them every time they wear their helmet as well.  Do whatever you can to make sure your children understand the importance of wearing their helmet.

Finding the right fit for a bike helmet- To make sure a helmet complies with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, look for a sticker with any of the following on it: CPSC, ASTM 1, ANSI 2 or Snell 3.  Foam pads should be used inside the helmet to make sure it doesn't slip or move around while being worn.  The front of the helmet should fall two finger widths above the eyebrows for maximum effect.  The side straps make a "V" directly under each ear.  The chin strap should be tight enough so that the helmet moves down when the child's mouth is open.  Check the helmet often throughout the ride to make sure it is still worn correctly.  Make adjustments when necessary.

By following these bicycle safety tips for the young ones, your child will be ready for having fun in the sun in a safe and sane manner.  Enjoy!