Hot Rides – Summer Bike Safety Tips for Kids

With warm weather and longer days, summer is the perfect time for riding a bicycle. Riding a bike offers opportunities for children to explore their neighborhood, make friends, and stay healthy. However, parents need to remember that a bike is not a toy; it is actually a vehicle.

Here are some tips to ensure your child is safe while riding this summer:

• ALWAYS WEAR A PROPERLY FITTED BICYCLE HELMET:

Studies have shown that wearing a helmet can reduce risk of a head injury by 85%. Considering that an overwhelming majority of bicycle fatalities occur during the absence of a helmet, a properly fitted helmet can save lives. www.safekids.org provides instructions and step-by-step videos on how to fit your child’s bike helmet.

• ADJUST THE BICYCLE TO FIT:

When a child is on the bike, the seat height should allow for a slight bend in the knee when the leg is fully extended. Their feet should be able to touch the ground.  Local bike shops can help determine the proper seat height if you don’t feel comfortable setting it yourself.

• NO SILLY RIDING:

Do not allow your child to carry objects in their arms while riding. These should be placed in a backpack or bicycle carrier.

• CHECK EQUIPMENT:

Before letting your child ride, ensure their tires are fully inflated with air and check that their brakes are working properly.

• ENSURE THEY CAN BE SEEN:

Teach your children that just because they see a driver doesn’t mean the driver sees them. They should be wearing bright colors or neon clothing for best visibility. Instruct them to keep their eyes up and looking ahead and not down at the bike or at their friends riding around them.

• TEACH THEM APPROPRIATE ROAD AWARENESS:

Before crossing a street they should look left, right, and then left again before proceeding. Obeying traffic signs, including red lights and stop signs, is a must! Tell them to ride on the right side of the road with traffic and stay as far right as possible. Make sure your child knows appropriate hand signals, which can be found under the “For Kids” tab at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Bicycles.

• SAFETY AT NIGHT:

Limit riding after dark, but if they must: ensure they wear reflective clothing and have light reflectors on the front and back of the bike. Wearing white has not been shown to make them more visible. A head light on the helmet will also increase their visibility to drivers and is the law.

• BE A LOOKOUT:

Children who cannot understand or use traffic rules and hand signals should not ride alone nor on the road. Keep these children on sidewalks. Parents – be aware of your surroundings so you can alert them to cars, potholes, dogs, and other roadblocks that may cause a crash.

The above article was written by Cara Heaton, PT, DPT, and Sharon DiFino. Cara is a Pediatric Physical Therapist and Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, and Sharon is an Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences Disorders at Jacksonville University.

Click for more information about Brooks Rehabilitation’s pediatric services.