Backgrounder

Cycling News

Backgrounder
February 26, 1996
UNDATED

Bicycle safety is no accident

A child's first vehicle is a bicycle. How we teach children to use this vehicle needs improvement. The way we learned to ride is how we teach the next generation of cyclists: our parents spent a weekend with us, running along side until we could balance on our own. The rest was up to us. Our attitudes toward the rules of the road and traffic skills evolved through practice and experience. Our approach was carefree and playful. We believed that our bike was a toy and that our only responsibility was to put it away when we were done with it.

These early experiences shape how we later view the responsibilities and rights that accompany the use of the bicycle. In teaching others, especially young cyclists, we focus on "helmets and hand signals". This is an important step, but it barely begins to convey the knowledge that a cyclist must have in order to behave responsibly and safely. Early on, children need to be introduced to the safe and legal ways that they can use their first vehicle, as a member of the traffic system.

Child bicycle education programs provide basic cycling skills, an understanding of how traffic works, and an appreciation that cycling can provide a lifetime of transportation and enjoyment. The most immediate benefit is the improvement in the degree of safety that children will enjoy when riding their bikes. In addition, as children are introduced to the proper use of their first vehicles, the attitudes, knowledge and skills they gain can be directly applied later in life when they are learning to use a motor vehicle.

Research indicates that 60 percent of car-bicycle collisions occur among cyclists between the ages of 8 and 12. Most of these collisions result from the cyclist's failure to use proper riding techniques in a hazardous situation. Ironically, when asked, 95 percent of children harmed in traffic (pedestrian or cyclist) could describe the actual law they broke.

Despite the overwhelming number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities to children, studies show that an average of only one dollar is spent per child between birth and 15 years of age teaching traffic safety. Children are permitted to travel through their neighbourhoods with only a "look both ways before you cross the street" and a "make sure you stop at all stop signs."

Each year, hundreds of children are injured or killed as bicyclists in Canada. It is the unpredictable behaviour of children and their lack of competence in traffic that leads to over 90 percent of traffic-related injuries.

Bicycling falls and collisions are a major and growing problem among young people. Nationwide, more than 50,000 bicycle accidents result in serious injuries each year. About 100 result in fatalities - more than half of those killed are under 16 years old. The vast majority of these casualties are caused by unsafe riding practices.

Everywhere in Saskatchewan one sees examples of dangerous cycling practices, such as: not looking for traffic when leaving a driveway, riding on the left side of the street, swerving in front of overtaking traffic when turning, not stopping at stop signs, riding on sidewalks (except for very young children), and riding "double" on a single bike.

These dangerous behaviours are learned patterns that result in preventable injuries sustained in unnecessary falls and collisions. Most youngsters who make these mistakes are not intentionally flirting with danger. They ride the way they do because they've seen others do it or because they've been taught to ride that way by well-meaning, but misinformed, parents or friends.

It's important to remember that children are not just small adults. They have special needs and characteristics that make them especially vulnerable in traffic. For example:

Young children's peripheral vision is about two-thirds of adults'. When approaching traffic, children may not see the car that the adult next to them sees.

Children lack a sense of danger.

Children are restless and frequently not patient enough to wait for things like traffic signals.

Children are not good at judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles.
Children have acute hearing, but have difficulty localizing sound.

Children tend to focus on things that interest them most (like the ice cream van across the street or the ball that just rolled into the street).

Children often mix fantasy with reality; cars can be viewed as friendly toys whose headlights are eyes.

Children believe that adults will look out for them; they assume that if they see a car, the driver sees them and will watch out for them.

Children need to practice and experience what they are taught about traffic safety, just as they practice what they learn in school. They do not master skills in one day and, just as in math or art, there are new applications to learn about traffic safety as children develop.

Children learn best through meaningful activities and play. They need hands-on approaches, in real-life situations. Children can't simply be expected to safely blend with motorized traffic, understand how traffic works and travel competently through their neighbourhood after having only an assembly on bicycle safety. They need to experience being cyclists under close supervision of a trained instructor so they can become predictable and competent in traffic.

Children have the capability of learning the principles of safe and effective cycling. They can ride safely in traffic if given the opportunity to learn how.

- 30 -

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For further information, please contact:

Darrell Noakes
3120 - 8th Street East #106-305
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0W2
Telephone: (306) 343-6399
Toll-Free: 1-800-463-6399
Facsimile: (306) 343-6199
E-mail: borealis@sk.sympatico.ca

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Backgrounder February 26, 1996 UNDATED Bicycle safety is no accident A child's first vehicle is a bicycle. How we teach children to use this vehicle needs improvement. The way we learned to ride is how we teach the next generation of cyclists: our parents spent a weekend with us, running along side until we could balance on our own. The rest was up to us. Our attitudes toward the rules of the road and traffic skills evolved through practice and experience. Our approach was carefree and playful. We believed that our bike was a toy and that our only responsibility was to put it away when we were done with it. These early experiences shape how we later view the responsibilities and rights that accompany the use of the bicycle. In teaching others, especially young cyclists, we focus on "helmets and hand signals". This is an important step, but it barely begins to convey the knowledge that a cyclist must have in order to behave responsibly and safely. Early on, children need to be introduced to the safe and legal ways that they can use their first vehicle, as a member of the traffic system. Child bicycle education programs provide basic cycling skills, an understanding of how traffic works, and an appreciation that cycling can provide a lifetime of transportation and enjoyment. The most immediate benefit is the improvement in the degree of safety that children will enjoy when riding their bikes. In addition, as children are introduced to the proper use of their first vehicles, the attitudes, knowledge and skills they gain can be directly applied later in life when they are learning to use a motor vehicle. Research indicates that 60 percent of car-bicycle collisions occur among cyclists between the ages of 8 and 12. Most of these collisions result from the cyclist's failure to use proper riding techniques in a hazardous situation. Ironically, when asked, 95 percent of children harmed in traffic (pedestrian or cyclist) could describe the actual law they broke. Despite the overwhelming number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities to children, studies show that an average of only one dollar is spent per child between birth and 15 years of age teaching traffic safety. Children are permitted to travel through their neighbourhoods with only a "look both ways before you cross the street" and a "make sure you stop at all stop signs." Each year, hundreds of children are injured or killed as bicyclists in Canada. It is the unpredictable behaviour of children and their lack of competence in traffic that leads to over 90 percent of traffic-related injuries. Bicycling falls and collisions are a major and growing problem among young people. Nationwide, more than 50,000 bicycle accidents result in serious injuries each year. About 100 result in fatalities - more than half of those killed are under 16 years old. The vast majority of these casualties are caused by unsafe riding practices. Everywhere in Saskatchewan one sees examples of dangerous cycling practices, such as: not looking for traffic when leaving a driveway, riding on the left side of the street, swerving in front of overtaking traffic when turning, not stopping at stop signs, riding on sidewalks (except for very young children), and riding "double" on a single bike. These dangerous behaviours are learned patterns that result in preventable injuries sustained in unnecessary falls and collisions. Most youngsters who make these mistakes are not intentionally flirting with danger. They ride the way they do because they've seen others do it or because they've been taught to ride that way by well-meaning, but misinformed, parents or friends. It's important to remember that children are not just small adults. They have special needs and characteristics that make them especially vulnerable in traffic. For example: Young children's peripheral vision is about two-thirds of adults'. When approaching traffic, children may not see the car that the adult next to them sees. Children lack a sense of danger. Children are restless and frequently not patient enough to wait for things like traffic signals. Children are not good at judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles. Children have acute hearing, but have difficulty localizing sound. Children tend to focus on things that interest them most (like the ice cream van across the street or the ball that just rolled into the street). Children often mix fantasy with reality; cars can be viewed as friendly toys whose headlights are eyes. Children believe that adults will look out for them; they assume that if they see a car, the driver sees them and will watch out for them. Children need to practice and experience what they are taught about traffic safety, just as they practice what they learn in school. They do not master skills in one day and, just as in math or art, there are new applications to learn about traffic safety as children develop. Children learn best through meaningful activities and play. They need hands-on approaches, in real-life situations. Children can't simply be expected to safely blend with motorized traffic, understand how traffic works and travel competently through their neighbourhood after having only an assembly on bicycle safety. They need to experience being cyclists under close supervision of a trained instructor so they can become predictable and competent in traffic. Children have the capability of learning the principles of safe and effective cycling. They can ride safely in traffic if given the opportunity to learn how. - 30 - Back to main story For further information, please contact: Darrell Noakes 3120 - 8th Street East #106-305 Saskatoon, SK S7H 0W2 Telephone: (306) 343-6399 Toll-Free: 1-800-463-6399 Facsimile: (306) 343-6199 E-mail: borealis@sk.sympatico.ca News index page

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