Bike Safety
This warmer weather may have your family anxious to get back outside after the winter. Spring is a great season for family bike rides! It’s fun and healthy, a win-win situation. But teaching our kids proper bike riding safety is just as important as teaching them exercise can be fun.
Bike Safety
Wear a properly fitting helmet. Your helmet should not be too small or too large; and always buckle the helmet. When the straps are buckled, you should not be able to move the helmet around too much on your head.
Adjust your bike to fit. Make sure the bike you are riding is the proper size (there should be approximately 2 inches between you and the center pole when you stand over it). The seat should be level and at the same height as the handlebars. Your knees should have a slight bend when fully extended on the pedals.
Wear proper clothing. Bright colors help drivers see you better. Wear sneakers or closed toe shoes and make sure to tie them tightly to avoid the laces catching in the bike chain. Avoid long flowy dresses or any other clothing items that might get caught in the chain.
Riding Safety
Avoid riding at night. Visibility is obviously better during the day, which makes it safer to ride your bike. If you are riding when it is darker, wear bright colors to catch car headlights; reflective stickers are easily available and attachable to your bike frame and helmet for further safety.
Ride with traffic. Ride your bike on the right side of the road, going in the same direction as traffic.
Follow general traffic rules. When riding, use the same rules that would apply if you were in a car. Obey all traffic signs and patterns; bike riders have the same rights to the road, but that also means they have the same responsibilities. Signal all turns using your left hand (straight out means left turn, making a right angle up means right turn, right angle down means stop).
As always, if you have any questions or want more information, call either office or contact us online, and we will be happy to help!
Information compiled from articles from KidsHealth and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bike-safety.html#
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/kidsandbikesafetyweb/