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Bicycle Tips for Parents: Keeping your Kids Safe on the Road

Posted by Ashley on Dec 20, 2011 | General | 5 Comments

By and large bicycling is a safe activity. But, like many activities, one has to learn a few things before safely taking part. You and your child should go over the topics and do some of these suggested exercises. If possible, you should ride with your child. This will be valuable for both of you. And fun, too!

Four Common Bicycling Myths

• Myth #1: "Bicyclists should ride facing traffic": This myth causes about 25% of car/bike crashes. At intersections, few drivers look for traffic coming the wrong way. Ride where folks expect you!
• Myth #2: "A child need a bike to grow into": Wrong. On a big bike, kids wobble and weave down the road. They won't be able to react quickly in an emergency. Your child should be able to stand over his or her bike with both feet flat on the ground.
• Myth #3: "My child needs a 21-speed mountain bike": Probably not. Leave the fancy bike for later. Few young kids can work standard-sized hand brakes or confusing shifters while steering and pedaling. Ask 10-year-olds how they stop a high tech bike: "I drag my feet." "I don't stop." "I run into something." For your child's first bike, choose a sturdy one-speed with a coaster brake.
• Myth #4: "Our neighborhood is quiet, so we don't have to worry": Many bike crashes involving children happen on quiet two-lane residential streets with 25 mph speed limits - largely because that's where kids bicycle. Sound like your street? We often forget safety in familiar surroundings, and that can lead to trouble.

Three Common Bike/Car Crashes

• Crash Type #1: The driveway ride out: A child rides out of the driveway and is hit by a car. This scenario accounts for about 8% of all car/bike crashes and it gets kids early: the average is less than 10. What you can do: If bushes or trees block the view, trim them back. And teach your child these safety rules: 1. Stop before entering the street 2. If parked cars block the view, edge out to see beyond them 3. Look left, right, and left again for cars 4. See any? Wait until it's clear 5. No cars? Cross with care
• Crash Type #2: Running a stop sign: One car/bike crash in ten involves a bicyclist running a stop sign. The average age is about 11. Tip: If you "roll" stop signs, your child will learn your bad habit. What you can do: Teach your child that running stop signs could lead to a bad crash. Take him or her to a stop sign near your home. Emphasize the following: 1. Stop at all stop signs 2. Look left, right, left for cars 3. See any? Wait until it's clear 4. No cars? Cross with care 5. And never run a stop sign even if a friend just did so
• Crash Type #3: The "no look" left turn: In 10% of crashes, bicyclists turned left without looking back for traffic. If they had looked, they would have seen the cars coming and likely waited until it was clear. What you can do: Teach your child to walk across busy streets. Period. For residential streets, a 9- or even 10-year-old can be taught to make safe turns: 1. Look back 2. Yield to traffic coming from behind 3. Yield to traffic in front or to the side 4. Signal before moving or turning left 5. Confused or worried? Pull to the curb and walk your bike in the crosswalk