Bicycle is Not a Toy - It's a Child's
First Vehicle!
Bicycle Safety For Kids
Bicycles are fun
to ride—but they are also legally considered vehicles. As a cyclist you must
follow the same rules and laws as do motorists. Before you ride your bicycle
you should take into consideration a number of safety tips in order to ride
properly and safely with others.
► Proper Fitting Bicycle Helmet
► Proper
Fitting Bicycle
►
Proper Equipped Bicycle
►
Learn your ABC’s
►
Hand Signals
► Rules of the Road
► Bike Safety
Presentation
►
Bicycle Safety Book
Helmets
The first and most important step in bicycle safety is wearing a helmet.
Head injury is the leading cause of death and permanent disability in
bicycle crashes. Cyclists who wear helmets are less likely to be involved in a
fatal accident than those who do not wear one. The best helmet
is one which fits properly, is worn correctly and has been manufactured to
meet strict safety standards. A good helmet will come with a Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) or Snell Memorial Foundation sticker inside, and
may meet other standards as well. Hockey or other types of sports helmets
are not recommended for cycling since they're designed and tested for other
types of impact.
How do
Helmets Protect your Head?
A helmet works by absorbing the force of the impact
and spreading it out over the whole helmet. The impact on your head and your
brain is reduced. Your skull is hard, but it is not very thick (about the
thickness of three pennies stacked up.) You can crack your skull just by
hitting your head on the ground after falling off your bike. Wearing a
helmet reduces how much force your skull must take, and how much your brain
will crash around inside your skull if you crash and hit your head.
(Source: Young
Cyclist’s Guide)
Properly Fitting Bicycle Helmet
Look for a label or sticker that says the helmet has been
tested and meets the safety standard.
Select a brand and size that fits well prior to any
adjustments. Most helmets come with adjustable sizing pads to help ensure a
better fit.
The straps should be adjusted to meet just below the ear, and fastened
comfortably.
Never buy a used helmet – it could be damaged.
To provide maximum protection, the helmet should fit level and square on the
head. The front should cover the forehead. It should sit snugly on your head
and not slip when the head is moved, even before the chin strap is fastened.
Sizing pads are provided which can help fine tune the fit.
3-Point Helmet Adjustment:
a) The straps should meet in a V shape just
below your ears.
b) The edge of the helmet should be 2 fingers above your
eyebrows to protect your forehead.
*
If you are
purchasing your child's first bike, it should have footbrakes rather than
gears or handbrakes. Usually when a child begins to ride at the age of
5 or 6, their leg muscles are better equipped with the strength to stop a
bike than their hand reflexes or finger strength.
Before you get started, it’s important to give your bike a quick check to
make sure it’s in the right shape to ride safely. The ABC Quick Check is an
easy way to remember what parts of your bike you need to check in a basic
inspection.
*
ABC Quick Check is a smart way to keep your bike in good shape and more
importantly keep you safe!
