Sports activities are fun, but with any activity it's important to know the best ways to stay safe. Here are tips to help you start the discussion with your kids and work together to keep their activities happy and healthy.
Start with the right bike
- Make sure your child has the right-sized bike. They should be able to place both feet flat on the ground when straddling the bike.
- Make sure their tires are properly inflated, and that the brakes are working right.
- If your kids will ride at night, they MUST have a white front light and a red rear reflector.
Keep your kids safe and seen
- Make sure your child always wears a helmet when riding a bike. The helmet should fit snugly under your child's chin and low over the forehead, about two finger widths above the eyebrow. If the fit isn't quite right, you can get sizing pads to customize the fit at any bike or toy store. Be sure to fasten the chin strap.
- Help them be seen. Try to get a brightly colored helmet for your child and have them wear light-colored clothes when they ride.
- Stress how important it is for your child to hear everything going on around them. Wearing headphones while riding is very dangerous.
- Watch out for loose clothing or backpack straps that could get caught in their bike and make them lose control.
- Make sure they wear appropriate shoes to ride — no flip-flops, cleats, etc.
Teach your child to be a responsible rider
Talk about road safety with your kids. Here's what to cover with them:
- Stop for stop signs and stop lights. Obey all other traffic signs.
- Don't do anything that would surprise the driver of a car (swerving, turning suddenly, etc.)
- Use proper hand signals for turning and stopping:
- To show you're making a left turn, hold your left arm straight out beside you.
- To show you're making a right turn, hold your left arm out beside you, bent at a right angle at the elbow, with your hand about head height.
- To show you're going to stop, hold your left arm out beside you, bent at a right angle at the elbow, with your hand about hip level.
- If you're changing lanes, look behind you first to make sure it's clear.
- Always ride on the right side of the road.
- Stop whenever you come to a driveway. A car could be pulling in from the street, or backing out from the driveway.
- Always be aware of parked cars. The driver may suddenly open the door in your path. Leave at least three feet between you and the side of a parked car.
- Watch out for walkers. When riding on a path, trail, or sidewalk, keep your speed down, and call out that you're passing.
- Never hitch a ride on a moving vehicle or do stunts (wheelies, etc.) on a road with cars or trucks.
- One bike, one kid. Don't let anyone ride on your handlebars, or ride double with you, unless it's a bike with two seats.
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