Safe Cycling for Children

With thousands of children affected by cycling accidents and injuries each year, before beginning a cycling fitness program with children, careful consideration should be made in safety equipment use, including cycling helmets, as well as road hazard conditions. Teaching children the basic guidelines of safe cycling will ensure the entire family enjoys the experience of the bicycle.

First, and foremost, every child should be taught the importance of a helmet. When riding a bicycle, the helmet should be considered a part of the bicycle equipment. By making this "two-piece" connection early in life, children will grow up to believe the helmet and the bicycle are one unit. Unfortunately, for some children, the thought of wearing a helmet is not considered cool. However, with a decorative helmet, the child has the opportunity to custom design the helmet to define their own personality. By allowing for individualization of the helmet, the child is encouraged to wear the helmet and may, in fact, entice their peers to do the same.

In addition to customizing the design on the exterior of the helmet, the child should be taught how to appropriately wear a helmet when cycling. The helmet should never obstruct the view of the cycler and should sit snug onto the head, just above the eyebrows, and never easily tilt back and forth. Straps must be part of the cycling helmet component and children should be trained in how to appropriately secure the cycling helmet. Parental inspection of the helmet should be done weekly.

In cycling, helmet safety is a defensive approach. As a first line of safety, in an offensive manner, children should be taught to ride with the flow of traffic, use bells and hand turn signals and to remember it is important to be heard when riding a bicycle. When approaching intersections, while cycling, the child should be taught to slow the speed and look in all directions before proceeding. Commonly, cycling accidents occur when cyclers ride in close proximity to parked cars. Drivers will often open doors of parked cars without inspecting the clearance, leaving cyclers in danger of striking the car door. Teach children to ride as far to the left as possible so as to avoid this collision, while remaining out of the line of flowing traffic.

As with all fitness and sports activities, safety is most important. Keeping children safe, in any sport, begins with educating the child in the basic rules and various hazards involved. When participating in a cycling activity with a child, providing a bicycle, helmet, horn and headlight will provide additional measures to ensure the child is seen and heard while cycling. Additionally, teaching the child basic street sense hazards may reduce the risk of danger while cycling through various terrains. For more information regarding bicycle helmets and safety, vist www. bellsports.com.

About the Author: Safe Cycling for ChildrenA Guide to Ensure Safety for Children when Cycling

By Chrissy & Company Published Oct 03, 2006Click to contact me