Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency room due to bicycle injuries, according to an article from www.kidshealth.org. At least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days in the hospital. In order to keep ourselves and our kids safe this season, follow these tips on how to ride safely on two wheels this season:
- Always wear a helmet: a head injury could mean brain injury. A helmet will provide you with the protection you need to potentially save you and your child’s life.
- Choose a bike that is the right size for you or your child: choosing the right size bike keeps you safe. There should be 1 to 3 inches of space between you and the top bar when straddling the top bar of the bike.
- Wear bright clothes and put reflectors on your bike when riding at night
- Wear sneakers and tight pants/shorts: wearing loose pants could cause the material to get caught in your bike chain. Flip flops, heels or cleats won’t help you grip the pedals.
- Before riding, check your brakes to be sure they aren’t sticking
- Make sure your child knows where he/she is allowed to ride: kids younger than 10 years old should ride on the sidewalk and avoid the street. Set boundaries and let your child know how far they are allowed to go. Teach them to walk their bike across the street when crossing a busy road.
- Use designated bike lanes if they exist in your area. If not, always ride on the right side of the street so you are traveling in the same direction as the cars.
- Teach yourself and your children hand signals: there are turn signals bikers use to let other vehicles on the road know what you will do next. Using these signals helps avoid crashes and injury. Go to: http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_safety.html to learn the hand signals!
If you or your child has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact us for a free appraisal.