Bike riding is not only fun but it is also very healthy. It helps you, baby, to develop independent skills as he or she tries to ride it all alone. Encouraging your kid to ride a bike is essential, and you should emphasize on the safety. After all, you don’t want your kid to suffer from bike injuries.
Safety is the most important thing when operating any machine. Following instructions keenly will help you and your baby to avoid injuries, accidents and also to maintain the bike in the best condition possible. The following are 5 safety tips you should follow to ride a bike with your baby.
Wear The Right Helmet Fit:
The head is the most crucial part of the body and it should be protected in case of an accident. Always ensure that you and your baby wear a helmet before getting on a bike. It is the only safety device that will prevent head injury or even deaths in case the bicycle crashes.
Make sure your helmet, as well as that for your baby, is of the right size. It should meet the standards of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
When purchasing the helmet allow your kid to pick his own as this will increase the willingness of him wearing ever riding time. Ensure that your baby knows how to put on the helmet appropriately.
Appropriate Bike And Maintenance:
Make sure you bring your baby with you when buying the bike to help you choose the correct size for the child. When your child is sitting on the bike, his feet have to touch the surface.
Before the ride, ensure that brakes are working properly, the tire is well inflated, gears are shifting with ease and the reflectors are secure. Avoid loose-fitting clothes as they can get caught by wheel spokes or chain.
Teach Your Baby Good Behaviour And Be A Role Model:
Children learn a lot by watching how their parents do. Therefore, you must observe the safety rules first for your child to copy. For your child to wear a helmet, wear your first and he will always see the need.
Teach your child to always ride on the right-hand side of the road and with the traffic. Use proper hand signs as well as obeying the traffic indications. Train your child to create eye contact with other drivers on the street or road. This will help the drivers to concentrate and stop before crossing the street.
Supervise Your Child:
Always keep an eye on your child until you contend that he is responsible enough to ride alone. Since children are different in becoming pros, try to ride along bike paths, sidewalks or paths. This will help you to teach them how to observe other vehicles and to judge the distance and speed of other cars to avoid accidents. Allow your child to compete with other kids to test riding capability and familiarity with the road rules before he can cycle with traffic.
Always Use The Lights And Be Bright:
In case you are cycling at dawn, evening or at dusk, ensure you use the lights and you dress brightly. Your bike should have reflectors. It is advisable to put on accessories and clothes with retro-reflective materials to increase drivers' visibility. Some states necessitate a front light and a back reflector. The front lights will enable the drivers to see you and this will avoid collisions.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Q: How to choose the child's right bike
A: A child's bike should be light enough almost half the child's body weight. Never buy a bike for your child to grow with, look for the best fit size and allow your kid to test. The child's feet should touch the floor while seated on the bike. A 14 to 16-inch bike best suits children aged 4 to 6 years. A 10-year child requires a 20-inch bike while a 12-year-old baby will best fit in a 24-inch bike.
Q: At what age should a child ride a bike on the road?
A: Traffic awareness starts at the age of 8 to 10 years. This is when the Bikeability, which is a school-related cycle training starts. Until this time, you will be required to ride along with your child for supervision.
Q: Is it a must for a kid to wear a helmet?
A: Of course yes. A helmet is the vital piece of equipment that every child should be forced to put on before riding a bike. This is because it still is proven that the helmet reduces head injuries by 85% and prevents severe brain damage by 75%. Therefore any child below 16 years of age should never be allowed to ride a bike without putting on a fitting helmet.
Q: How should a helmet fit a child?
A: A bike helmet has to sit low on the forehead. One or two finger-width is allowed above the child's eyebrow. The child must be capable of looking upward and seeing the front rim of your bike helmet on your head. The right and left ear of the child should form a "Y" and assemble exactly beneath the ears. If the child opens his mouth wide the bike helmet should pull the head down to indicate that it is fit.
Q: Where on the road should I and my child ride a bike?
A: In case there are usable bike lanes, make sure you use them. If they are not there, ensure you drive on the right-hand side near the edge of the road. Always avoid any interference with other traffic. Teach your kid to cycle on a straight line down the road, and keep a distance of 3 to 4 feet from any parked car. However, if your kid has not gained road skills, keep off from traffic and ride on parks.
Final Thoughts:
Bike riding with your child is a fun way to bond with your kid and a platform to teach him or her self-determination skills. To achieve this, always employ the safety tips that will keep both you and your child free from injuries and the bikes too.
Relevant Resources:
Hello Guys! I am John Reese, a professional biker and my hobby is biking! I have been biking for last 10 years and I love using bikes while outing as well. Based on my experiences with the different type of bikes (mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrid bikes); I am sharing my opinion about various bikes so that a beginner can get started right away. Happy reading!
