The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. The trees are blossoming. With summer upon us, what better way to enjoy it than with a family bike ride?
Unfortunately, accidents can – and do – happen. In fact, they are one of the leading causes of injury for northeast Ohio children.
So before you dust off your bikes and hop on, make sure your family’s covered with these 4 bike safety basics.
1. Wear your helmet
Make sure everyone in the family wears a bike helmet every time they ride, even for shorter rides.
Head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle-related crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have a simple saying: ‘Use your head, wear a helmet’,” said Heather Trnka, injury prevention supervisor at Akron Children’s. “It’s the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.”
It’s important the bike helmet fits properly. You don’t want it too small or too big. Your children’s helmet should be worn level and cover their forehead. Don’t let them tip it back so their forehead is showing. Typically, you don’t want the helmet more than 2 fingers above the eyebrows. Also, the straps should always be fastened and snug enough that they can’t twist the helmet around on their head.
If someone in your family does fall down and puts their helmet to the test, be sure to get a new one. They don’t work as well after a major crash.
2. Bikes have sizes, too
Riding a bike that’s the right size for your riders also helps keep your family safe.
Have each family member get on their bicycle and stand straddling the top bar of their bike so both feet are flat on the ground. There should be 1 to 3 inches of space between them and the top bar.
Then, run through this safety checklist to ensure the bike is safe to ride:
- Make sure their seat, handlebars and wheels fit tightly.
- Check and oil the chain regularly.
- Check the brakes to be sure they work well and aren’t sticking.
- Check the tires to make sure they have enough air and the right amount of tire pressure.
3. Be seen to be safe
Wearing bright clothes and putting reflectors on your bikes help other people on the road see you and your family better. Daytime riding is the safest, so try to avoid riding at dusk and later.
Also, make sure that nothing will get caught in the bike’s chain, such as loose pant legs, backpack straps or shoelaces.
Make sure everyone wears the right shoes — sneakers — when they ride. Sandals, flip-flops, shoes with heels and cleats won’t help you grip the pedals. And never allow them to go riding barefoot!
Leave the headphones at home. The music can distract your riders from noises around them, such as a car blowing its horn so they can get out of the way.
4. Follow the rules of the road
A bike path free of cars is the best choice for riding bikes, especially for kids younger than 10.
“Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be hard for kids to judge speed and distance of cars until age 10, so limit riding to sidewalks, parks or bike paths,” said Heather. “However, 10 isn’t the magic number to let your child ride in the street alone. Slowly allow this to happen by trailing behind on your bike and watching what your child does. You’ll know when it is appropriate.”
When your kids are ready to ride in the street, make sure they understand and follow the rules of the road, including:
- Always stop and check for traffic in both directions when leaving your driveway, an alley or a curb.
- Cross at intersections, and walk your bike across the street. When you pull out between parked cars, drivers can’t see you coming.
- Ride on the right-hand side of the street, so you travel in the same direction as cars do. Never ride against traffic.
- Stop at all stop signs and obey traffic (red) lights just as cars do.
Most childhood injuries are preventable. Learn more about Akron Children’s injury prevention programs and ways to keep your family safe.
