Bicycle Safety
BICYCLE SAFETY
Bicycles are fun, but they are more than just toys. Bicycles are vehicles, and as such are unfortunately involved in many accidents. 500 to 600 bicycle-related deaths occur among children each year, and biking has been shown to account for 10% of visits to emergency rooms. In most accidents, the rider loses control of the bike because of inexperience, carelessness, unforeseen obstacles, or problems with the bike itself. Most fatal accidents occur at or near an intersection. With a few simple precautions, injuries can be prevented or minimized. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Choose the Right Bike
Resist the temptation to buy your child a bike that he can “grow into”. An oversized bike is an unsafe bike.
The child should be able to sit on the bike and place both feet on the ground. When the child is sitting on the saddle, the foot should comfortably reach and manipulate the pedal in the down position. When straddling a boy’s bike with both feet flat on the ground, there should be an inch of clearance between the central bar and the crotch. Ask the bike shop for a chart showing proper bike sizes according to the child’s leg length.
The seat should be comfortable for the child, and he should be able to reach the handlebars and work the handbrakes properly. A “test ride” is a good idea.
Read Up On Safety
Carefully go over the instruction manual that comes with the bicycle. Also be sure to read a copy of the bicycle “Rules of the Road”. It will help reinforce such safety tips as staying to the right of the road, riding in single file, using hand signals a half block in advance of turns, obeying traffic signals and markings, and stopping at intersections.
“Defensive driving ” is just as important for bicyclists as it is for motorists. Bicyclists should be especially alert for car doors opening and cars and pedestrians moving into the flow of traffic. Ask the local branch of the American Automobile Association for a free copy of “Bike Basics” and for information about other bicycle and traffic safety problems.
Set Your Own Limits and Rules
It is a good idea to specify the permissible times and places of bike riding, depending on the child’s age and experience. Safe routes (such as bike paths or familiar streets) can be mapped and areas to avoid designated. Rules might also include no riding after dark or during inclement weather.
Before granting privileges, make sure your child knows how to get on and off the bike properly, how to ride in a straight line, and how to brake properly. Children who ride in an unsafe manner should be disciplined so as to establish the significant and real concerns of the parents. Prohibiting the use of the bike for a specified period of time is an appropriate punishment.
Be Alert for Hazardous Conditions
Bicyclists should always be on the lookout for danger spots on the road. Common hazards include grates, bumps, potholes, soft shoulders, oil spots, patches of gravel, wet leaves, ice, water, sand, and unfriendly dogs.
Keep the Bike Well Maintained
Tire pressure should be maintained at the level indicated on the tire itself. A chain guard should be in place and the chain lubricated regularly. Once a year the bike should be inspected, including the brakes, handlebars, wheels, spokes, pedals, and chain. Encourage the child to report any problems with the bike right away.
Protect Yourself!
Most serious bicycle-related injuries are head and neck injuries. Buy a hard-shelled helmet with an expanded polystyrene interior for your child and make sure that he always wears it while bike riding. Proper dress is an important part of bicycle safety. A long coat or loose fitting trouser leg can get stuck in the spokes or chain and cause a nasty spill.
Use Common Sense
Carelessness causes many a bicycle mishap. Some common sense precautions include:
– Don’t ride barefoot
– Avoid riding in heavy traffic
– Don’t share a bike with another child – Children should not be allowed to ride after dark – Never hitch a ride on another vehicle – Don’t come to skidding stops
– Avoid zigzagging and other types of dangerous stunt riding
Parents and Kids Together
For parents carrying infants and young children on the back of a bike, some special rules apply. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
– Never carry infants under 6 months of age on the back of a bicycle.
– Carry infants 6 to 12 months of age in a backpack-type carrier. – Carry children ages 1 to 4 years (up to 40 pounds) in a seat that protects their feet and hands from the spokes. They must be belted into the seat to minimize the risk of falling. – Wear a helmet and make sure the child wears one too. – Restrict riding to bike paths, parks, and other quiet areas. – Take into account the fact that a child passenger makes the bicycle more unstable and increases braking time.