Bicycle Safety Tips for kids are key for any young child. For most children learning to ride a bike on their own is a milestone in their growing independence. Once a child becomes proficient at riding a two wheeler, they are usually allowed to travel further afield on their own than ever before.
Following these bicycle safety tips for kids under 10 will help your children remain as safe as possible.
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Bicycle Safety Tips For Kids Under 10: 6 Tips That Could Keep Your Kid Safe While Riding Their Bike
1. Make Sure of the Right Fit
Never allow your child to ride a bike that is not designed for their size. Have your child stand over the bar of the bike.
There should be 1 to 2 inches between where their legs join and the top of bar if they are riding a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if they are riding a mountain bike.
The seat should be level and they should be able to reach the handle bar and hand brake (if there is one) without having to stretch to do so.
2. Always Wear a Helmet
No matter how well you or your child rides a bike, accidents can still happen, so make sure your child wears a helmet whenever he or she rides their bike and set an example by wearing your own.
If necessary, you can help your child customize their helmet so that it looks “cool” and they feel like they are a trend setter among their friends.
Who knows, they may well be and this may result in even more young bicyclists wearing helmets and protecting their head and skull from injuries should an accident occur.
3. Young Bicyclists Should Ride on the Sidewalk Not in the Street
Children under 10 should not ride their bicycles in the street unless accompanied by an adult.
Not only do they need parental supervision until they learn all the rules of riding their bike in traffic, it also helps to keep them safer from would be abductors, and drivers who may find it difficult to see smaller bikes in heavy traffic areas.
Like everything else in life, children learn safety rules a few at a time, and ensuring they stay on the sidewalk and adhere to safety rules regarding pedestrians, and other safe guards before adding the more complicated rules of street bike riding will help your child practice following bike safety rules a few at a time.
4. Use a Basket of Doll Seat to Carry Toys, Snacks, Drinks, and Other Items
Children should never ride a bike while carrying anything in their hands; they need both hands on the handle bars for proper steering.
Younger children also should not ride a bike while wearing a backpack as they need to achieve and maintain proper balance when riding a bike.
This means that if your child wants to take that doll to their friend’s house, their bike should be equipped with a doll seat for bike to secure the doll in for your child’s safety.
Baskets on the front or back of the bike are also important for carrying snacks, drinks, a jacket, and smaller toys or other objects.
5. Wear Proper Clothing
Along with a bike helmet your child should wear proper clothing.
Proper clothing consists of clothing that fit and won’t interfere with their being able to ride the bike properly, and should be a color to make your child clearly visible.
6. Young Children Should Avoid Riding at Night or in Heavy Fog
Younger children should avoid riding their bike at night or in any condition where visibility may be an issue, such as heavy fog or at dusk.
However, there may be times when this may be unavoidable, so make sure that your child’s bike is equipped with reflectors and even a headlight if possible.
You might even want to ensure that your child always has a jacket or shirt that has reflector tape on it to put on if needed.
Following these few bicycle safety tips, will help your young child to be more independent while helping to keep them as safe as possible.
Bike helmets for even more bicycling safety
Giro Register MIPS Bike Helmet – Matte Titanium
Razor V-17 Youth Multi-Sport Helmet, MagentaBell 7059827 3D Minnie Me Bike Helmet
