Bike rides are a fun and healthy way for kids to spend time, but it’s crucial to ensure they ride safely. Bicycle accidents are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in children aged 5-14, and more than 400,000 kids are sent to the emergency room with injuries each year.

Bicycle safety requires more than just getting your child to wear a helmet. Data shows that more kids have started wearing helmets in recent years, but they’re still being injured and killed at an alarming rate. Even when a child is wearing a helmet, bicycle accident injuries can be serious, especially if the accident involves a car. However, even crashing into a pedestrian can cause severe injuries.

To keep your kid safe, you need more than just a helmet. With proper guidance and awareness, you can help your kids develop safe biking habits. 

Here’s how.

Buy the proper bike

Bicycle size matters. Too often, kids get on a bike that’s too big for them, and as a result, it’s hard to control. Your child should be able to have both feet on the ground while sitting on the saddle, and about 1-2” of clearance while standing over the middle bar. Their feet don’t need to be completely flat, but they shouldn’t be on the tip of their toes.

Adjust your child’s bike

Most bicycles have adjustable seats and handlebars, and they should be adjusted according to your child’s height. As your child grows, they should be readjusted accordingly.

Teach your child to perform quick checks

Kids want to grab their bike and go, but teach them to perform a quick inspection before they take off. All it takes is one problem that goes unnoticed to cause an issue. Teach them to test the brakes, check their tires, and inspect the chain before they ride.

If your child throws their bike around, as most kids do, it’s only a matter of time before the chain will come loose. When they’re in the habit of inspecting their bike and know how to put the chain back on, they won’t need to call you for help.

Require a helmet and replace it after a crash

Wearing a helmet should be non-negotiable. Never allow your child to ride a bike without properly securing their helmet. It’s the only way to prevent a head injury if they fall off or get hit. Helmets should be replaced after an impact to ensure proper protection.

For the best protection, get your child a helmet certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and adjust the strap for them to ensure a good fit. If they’re too concerned about the way they’ll look wearing a helmet, don’t let them ride.

Teach them the rules of the road

Bicycling comes with a lot of responsibilities, including following the rules of the road. This includes stopping at stop signs, stop lights, and using turn signals. Have someone ride with them several times to make sure they have it down.

Teach your child to always ride with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road and stop at stop signs and stop lights. Train them how to proceed at a 4-way stop. When they get to a crosswalk, they should push the button and wait for the proper signal to cross while walking their bike across the street.

Your child also needs to know basic hand signals for turning and stopping to communicate with drivers, even if they’re riding on the sidewalk. Although it’s safer, it’s illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in many areas, so you’ll need to take that into consideration when you let them ride.

Make them visible

Too many bicyclists get hit by drivers who never saw them. This happens often at night when bicyclists are wearing dark clothing, but it happens in the daytime, too. If your child won’t wear bright clothing, require them to wear a reflective vest over their clothing to increase visibility. Equip their bike with front and rear lights as well as reflectors, and teach them to stay alert for car doors opening, pedestrians, and other hazards.

Designate specific, safe routes

If your child rides their bike to and from school, select a specific path that poses the least danger. Your chosen path should avoid busy streets whenever possible.

Build lifelong safe riding habits

Instilling safe biking practices in your child is an investment in their well-being and independence. By protecting them with the right equipment, offering guidance, and training them on the rules of the road, you can empower them to enjoy cycling with minimal risk.