For many kids, learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage. And while some kids won’t really get into biking as teens or adults, others will come to find that their love for being on two wheels turns into a passion for things like motorcycles and dirt bikes as they move toward adulthood. So to ensure that any time your child spends riding bikes and cultivating their love for cycling is done in a safe way, it’s up to you to ensure that you’ve taught them proper safety.
To help you in doing this, here are three tips for teaching your kids about bike safety, both while they’re young and as they mature.
Always Wear The Right Safety Equipment
Because everyone is going to fall off their bike at one point or another, what you really want to do to keep your kids safe is to teach them about the right protective gear to wear.
According to Saint Luke’s, the bare minimum of gear you should have your kids wear each and every time they get on their bike is a properly fitting helmet. In addition to this, things like closed-toed shoes, knee or elbow pads, and long sleeves and pants can also give your kids more protection in the event of a crash or fall.
If and when your kids decide to try things like dirt bikes or motorcycles, be sure you get them the right gear for those hobbies so they can be safe.
Make It Easy To Be Seen
Aside from your kids just falling off their bike on their own, you should also teach them how to avoid any altercations with vehicles, which can be very dangerous for cyclists.
To best do this, SafeKids.org advises that you teach your kids what to wear so that they can easily be seen by anyone who might be driving near them. Ideally, this should include wearing bright clothes, having reflectors on their gear, and using a headlight if they ever bike in the early morning or evening.
Learn And Obey Traffic Rules
As your child gets more comfortable with biking, he or she may take to the streets rather than just biking around your neighborhood or sticking to the sidewalks. When this happens, it’s vital that you talk about the traffic laws in your area and the importance of obeying them.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of the basic rules of the road in most areas include biking with the flow of traffic, following the same laws that other vehicles on the road have to follow, knowing when to yield to other traffic, and just being more aware of what’s going on around you.
If you have kids who are about to learn to ride a bike, consider using the tips mentioned above to ensure you’ve taught them how to stay safe while doing so.
