Six Important Bicycle Safety Tips for Children

Warm San Diego weather will lead to an increase in the number of cyclists on the road this summer. During this time of year, more people take up cycling as a recreational activity. Some of those people are children who are enjoying their summer time off from school. If your child is going to enjoy cycling this summer, then the following tips from Safe Kids Worldwide may help improve his or her safety.

1. Pick the right helmet size. Your child should always wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, you should ensure that the helmet is the right size and compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards. A helmet should not rock forward or side-to-side. You can read more about selecting the right helmet size on our website.
2. Choose the right bicycle size. You should bring your child along if you are shopping for a new bicycle. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends selecting a bike that is the right size for your child and not one they will grow into. Your child’s feet should touch the ground while he or she is sitting on the bicycle’s seat.
3. Keep the bicycle maintained. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends regularly checking the bicycle’s reflectors, brakes, tires and gears. For example, check to make sure the tires are properly inflated and that the gears shift smoothly.
4. Avoid long or loose clothing. Some types of clothing can become stuck in the bicycle’s bike chains or wheel spokes. If your child is riding a bike, then he or she should not be wearing long or loose clothing.
5. Use lights at dusk, dawn or evening hours. Your child’s bicycle should be compliant with California’s bicycle lighting laws. Reflective materials and bright clothing can also help improve visibility during dusk, dawn or evening hours.
6. Teach your child safe cycling behaviors. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends teaching your child safe cycling behaviors by setting a good example. For instance, you could teach your child to make eye contact with drivers or to look left, right and left again while traversing an intersection. These are only a few examples.

There are additional bicycle safety tips for children that our blog did not cover. We have a page on our website that goes into more detail on safety tips your child could utilize this summer. For future updates on our blog, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

If you have questions about your rights after a bicycle accident, then you can speak to San Diego bicycle accident attorney Joshua Bonnici during a free consultation.