Blog: Bike Safety Month

Posted by: Lindsay Hansen at May 10, 2011 12:00 AM CDT

Keywords: Education

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May is well underway and so is National Bike Safety Month, which means you’re probably already geared up for the riding season, right? Make sure your commitment to being a safe bicyclist is tuned-up as well! The annual number of bicycling-related injuries and fatalities is a stark reminder for all of us—adults and kids alike—that riding safely and responsibly, and always wearing a helmet, is the first order of business before spinning those wheels.

Consider this: each year about 100 children are killed while riding and more than 250,000 kids are injured. We know that our strongest line of defense is safe, knowledgeable riding and consistent use of helmets, which can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent.

I myself cannot wait until my niece and nephew are old enough to learn how to ride a bicycle. I’ll let their mom and dad do the hard part—the trip to the local bicycle shop, the taking on and off (and maybe on again) of training wheels -- and of course, the sheer thrill and fear of “letting go” the very first time, watching their children weave left and right, finding their balance and the confidence to do it all on their own.

As for my part as the Auntie, I’ll just take the role of the helmet enforcer. Although, as evidenced by the picture of my 6 month old nephew, above…it looks like I’m already falling behind on my job!

Here are a few helpful safety tips for parents, caregivers or any bicycle enthusiasts, who share in the fun and fulfillment of teaching a child how to ride a bicycle, and why it is imperative they wear a helmet on every ride.

Before the Ride

Helmets on Heads: Establish the simple rule: No helmet, no bike.
Wear one yourself; children are more likely to wear helmets when you do too!
Allow your child pick out his or her own helmet—they're more likely to wear it.
Make the wheels-and-helmet connection early so it’ll become habit as they age.

Take the Helmet Fit Test:

Eyes: Position the helmet on your head. Look up. You should see the bottom rim of the helmet.
Ears: Make sure the straps form a ‘V’ under ears when buckled. The straps should be snug.
Mouth: Open mouth as wide as possible. Does the helmet hug the head? If not, tighten the straps.

In Motion

Ride right: bikes travel with traffic, not against it so ride on the right side of the road.
Look back before turning left. If traffic is coming, be patient and let it go first.
Be visible to drivers when you and your child ride.
Watch out for and avoid uneven surfaces while riding.
Bike only on sidewalks and paths until your child reaches about age 10

You'll find more bicycle safety tips on our website. And you can watch our video on fitting a helmet correctly.

Comment on this Blog Post:

Posted by Promo Indonesia at: May 14, 2012

i am so agree with you. Biking is healthy, more over if we enjoying this activities. Really great experience. Promo Member Alfamart Minimarket Lokal Terbaik Indonesia

Posted by Robyn Bartholf at: June 3, 2011

Very informative blog! enjoyed it very much, especially the Helmut fit test! I will check out your video and always make sure my grandchildren wear helmuts because I know first hand just how important they are!!!