Teach Your Child To Ride a Bike Safely With These 5 Tips

Learning to ride a bike can be a life-changing event for a child, a great milestone that both the kid and their parents will cherish for a long time. Safety is the primary concern of every parent — especially when training their children to ride a bike for the first time. Riding in big cities entails sharing urban streets with cars and other sorts of traffic. Though it is impossible to make riding completely risk-free — just as it is virtually impossible to make driving a car completely risk-free — there are ways to minimize the risk to a manageable level. Here are our top safety recommendations for bicycling with kids.

FIVE SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN WHO LIKE TO RIDE A BIKE

Ride bikes on specified bike paths and protected lanes

Make sure your children ride on bike paths that are protected by bike lanes whenever feasible. Over the last decade or so, there has been a continuous drop in the number of teen bike deaths, and the most probable reason for this positive stats trend is the progressive rise in off-road bike paths. There is no question that biking on bicycle-specific pavement, far away from motor traffic, is the safest option.

While it is a fact that many towns and cities lack such bicycle infrastructure, where it is accessible — make use of it. It’s well worth adding extra kilometers or going out of your way to choose the safest route available for your kids.

Use a kids bike helmet

For your children to follow in your footsteps and wear a kid bike helmet, you must set a good example by wearing one yourself. Teach children the significance of safety equipment, such as a kids’ bike helmet, so they never forget to wear one while out for a ride. Never forget that helmets can minimize the risk of brain injury by up to 80 percent. Depending on your country, it may even be a legal requirement to wear and make your children wear helmets when riding a bike.

Hardware

It’s also critical to ensure that your child’s bike is the right size. If your kid is a rookie, they must be able to sit well on the bicycle seat while both feet should be on the ground. Check that the tires are well inflated, the spokes are fastened, the chain is sturdy and secure and the handles are set to the proper position. If you are experiencing difficulties with equipment tests, you should bring the bicycle to your local bicycle shop for a bit of tune-up.

Be visible

Children must be visible to drivers or other motorists! This entails cycling in areas where vehicles can see them. It would be a good idea to dress them in vibrant colors and not let them ride in the dark unless their bike has headlights and red rear tail light. If you anticipate your child’s ride will stretch into the evening, make them wear reflective clothing or use reflective material.

Be prepared for an emergency

Accidents do happen from time to time, so being prepared is essential. Teach your children basic braking and turning techniques to avoid mishaps. To minimize injuries, teach youngsters to look for pedestrians, fire hydrants at the sides, railings, barriers, potholes, stones, and plants.

Also, you should have a basic first-aid kit with you. In the event of an emergency, you should bring a pump, spare tube or repair kit, water, food, and at least some cash.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Riding bicycles is a terrific way for the whole family to have fun. With these safety guidelines, you can be confident that your youngster is ready for an exciting bike ride! So take a deep breath and head out once you’ve observed these safety tips. The psychological and physical advantages of biking significantly exceed any hazards.