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10
Steps
to help your child cycle safely
Presented
by the Canadian Cycling Association, SafeKids Canada and Health Canada
For
children, cycling means freedom and adventure. When children learn good
cycling habits early, they can stay safe. As a parent or caregiver, you
have an important role to play in helping your child learn good cycling
habits.
You
can help:
- be
a good role model;
- make
sure your child has safe equipment;
- have
clear rules; and
- discuss
good cycling habits with your children.
The
information below offers key aspects of cycling to discuss with your children.
The best thing you can do is be involved in your children's cycling.
1.
If the bicycle fits...
Make
sure your child is riding a bike that fits and is in good working order.
A bike that is too big can't be controlled properly and can be dangerous.
It is not safe to buy a big bike with the idea that your child will "grow
into" it. A child should have both feet on the ground when straddling
the top tube of the bike. The child should be able to touch the ground
with the toes of both feet while sitting on the seat without leaning the
bike.
- Make
sure that the wheels are on tight and that the brakes work.
- A
bell or horn is required by law, and so is a red rear reflector and
front white light if you ride at night.
2. Don't forget your helmet...
Wearing
a bike helmet can save you and your child from serious injury or death.
Wearing a bike helmet reduces the risk of brain injury by 88%. Your children
may never have a collision with a car, but they will probably fall off
their bikes sometime. Even at low speeds, if the head hits the ground,
brain damage can occur. A helmet can cost as little as $15.
- Make
sure the helmet fits and the straps stay adjusted.
- The
helmet should sit level on the head, one or two finger widths above
the eyebrow.
- Keep
the chin strap fastened whenever the helmet is in use.
3.
Children under nine need supervision...
Children
learn new skills as they grow. Before age nine, most children do not have
the skills to cycle safely on the road. Learning to balance a bike is
only the first step. Understanding how traffic works takes time and experience.
Before age nine, children need help to make good choices. Children under
nine should ride with responsible adults.
4.
Rules of the road are for all cyclists...
The
bicycle is a vehicle. Regardless of age, a cyclist must obey the rules
of the road and all the traffic signs. Obeying the rules of the road means
you can stay safe.
- Stop
at all stop signs and red lights.
- Ride
on the right hand side of the road.
5.
Driveways may be hazardous to your health...
Many
children are hurt and some are killed every year because they ride into
the street without looking. They get hit by a car that has no chance of
stopping in time. A driveway is an intersection.
Teach
your children:
- Stop
before entering the road.
- Look
left, ahead, right, then left again.
- If
there is no traffic, then go.
6.
Practice makes perfect when crossing the street...
Children
need help to understand when it's safe to cross the road. Crossing the
road can mean crossing at the corner, crossing at a sidewalk, or crossing
in the middle of the block. The same rules apply when crossing railway
tracks. Children should walk their bikes across the street and across
tracks. They should learn to check left, check ahead, check right, then
left again before deciding if it is safe to cross. They should not ride
across tracks because they will have too many things to think about when
checking to make sure it is safe. Children younger than seven should not
cross any street alone. Children younger than nine should not cross busy
streets alone. You must walk your bike when crossing the street at a crosswalk.
7.
Sidewalks are not always safe...
For
young cyclists, sidewalks may be the best place to ride. But sidewalks
are not always safe. Children need help from their parents to stay safe
when they ride on the sidewalk.
There
are driveways and alleys that cross the sidewalk. Drivers may not see
a young cyclist riding on the sidewalk. Driveways, alleys, and even doorways,
should be considered as intersections.
Sidewalks
may be bumpy, causing children to lose control of their bikes and fall.
Pedestrians have the right of way and do not expect cyclists to be there,
too. Pets can run in front of bikes. At the end of the block, the sidewalk
ends and the road begins.
- Be
with your children when they ride on the sidewalk.
- Help
them to stop to check possible danger spots.
- Help
children respect pedestrians on the sidewalk.
When
children have developed the necessary skills (age nine and up), the safest
place to ride in the neighbourhood is on the road, where other drivers
can see them.
8.
Children should learn to make their own decisions...
If
a child is cycling with friends, he or she may just follow the cyclist
in front. This is dangerous. Traffic is changing all the time. Breaking
the law, such as riding through a stop sign, is still wrong, even if a
friend did it first. Help children learn that they are responsible for
their own vehicles and must make good and safe decisions for themselves.
9.
Never make a turn without looking behind you first...
When
cyclists are riding on the road or on a bike trail, they must always look
back over their shoulder first before signalling and turning. Children
may have been taught their signals, but they usually do not know how to
make a shoulder check. It can be a lifesaver. Cyclists must check to see
if the way is clear before changing direction. If there is traffic, a
child should stop by the side of the road and wait for a gap before turning.
10.
Enroll yourself and your children in a safe cycling skills course...
Cyclists
who take one of the Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE courses for
children or adults reduce their chances of being involved in a crash or
collision and gain confidence about cycling more often and in more situations.
Call Borealis Outdoor Adventure or your provincial cycling association
for more information.
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Borealis
Outdoor Adventure