A bike is one of the many things that every child wants at some point in their childhood. It’s a great way to allow them to explore the world around them. Additionally, it’s a great way for them to learn about exercise. Unfortunately, when you live in a city and your kids have to ride roadside before reaching a park or bike path, safety becomes extremely important. In addition to knowing the laws for bike safety in your state, here’s a mom’s guide to teaching bike safety to kids when riding roadside.
Accidents Can Happen at Any Moment
Accidents can happen anytime; however, when riding roadside the risk is elevated. Unfortunately, accidents are impossible to determine. As a result, teaching your kids about riding roadside is imperative. Below are a few tips on teaching bike safety to kids that you can use to guide your children towards a more enjoyable biking experience.
According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, around 800 bicyclists and 5,400 pedestrians are fatally injured annually. Cars and bicycles account for 17.7 percent of 2015’s grand total of 35,092 deaths in the United States. With these staggering statistics, teaching bike safety to kids so they can observe proper safety guidelines makes sense.
If you live in a densely populated area, your children riding a bicycle roadside can cause worry. So, how can you as a mommy teach bike safety to your kids? Check out these tips:
The Safe Biker: Good Discipline
The first step to bike safety is to teach kids to be responsible bikers. Biking is a leisurely exercise and activity, but only if it’s done safely and properly.
Even if your child knows how to ride a bike, always remind them that it should be taken seriously. Make sure they ride a bike with both hands on the handlebars. Additionally, all items should be in a backpack or in the bike’s basket. Just as important, make it clear that only one person should be on the bike.
- Don’t allow your kids to ride bikes while wearing headphones. They need to be able to know there’s traffic, and that can only be done if their ears are free from distractions.
- Don’t allow your kids to be on their bike when it’s night, dusk, or dawn. This timeframe leaves them invisible to many drivers. If they have to ride a bike at dusk or dawn, make sure their bikes have lights and reflectors.
The Safe Bike: Get the Right One
Perhaps the most important aspect of teaching bike safety to children is making sure they know how to use the bike they are riding. Make sure the bike you buy is the appropriate age level for your child. This means you shouldn’t expect your child to grow “into” the bike.
- Make sure the purchased bike suits the abilities of your child. If you don’t think your child can handle two wheels, then perhaps training wheels could help. If you think shifting and gears can be too difficult, .then perhaps just a single speed bike could work.
- Try to make sure your child is also aware of things that can happen to their bike that can result in their new bike ending up in a state of disrepair. Aside from regular maintenance on your end, teach your kids just why you’re having their bike repaired in the first place. That way, if they notice that something is wrong with their bike, they may not take it out and consult you instead.
The Equipment: Using the Bike Properly
When you bought your kid a bike, chances are you bought the entire “package.” Aside from the bike, you may have bought them the various kinds of gear that the children in the packaging are also wearing. If not, then here are some of the equipment you need to make sure you have:
- Always make sure your child has a helmet when they ride a bike. This is extremely important, regardless whether they’re riding at home or outside on the road.
- When your kids are outside, make sure they wear clothing that is bright and reflective. If you can find cycling clothes adequate for your kids’ size, make sure they have them. It’s important that they know they should wear these clothes so they are easily visible by everyone on the road.
Teach Your Child Safely and Efficiently About Bike Safety
When it comes to road safety, it’s important that everyone is aware of their responsibilities of drivers and pedestrians. This includes motor vehicles, skaters, scooters, and bicycles. Having an accident related to a bicycle can still create problems for all parties involved. It can even end up in serious injuries or death.
If your child wants to learn how to use a bike, it’s important that you be able to teach bike safety to them effectively. They must know how to avoid accidents when riding roadside. If you want to know more about the legal implications of this subject, click here.
About the author: Dianna Charles
Dianna Charles is a promising young law enthusiast who hopes to bring her youthful spirit to her field. She tries to add a refreshing modern take to topics on the legal world that people can learn from. Dianna enjoys her free time with friends and family, and loves to cook for them.
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