Checking And Choosing Bicycles
How do I choose the safest bicycle for my child?
To choose the safest bike for your child, just like a helmet you go with your child to the bike store and you have them try every single bike that you feel comfortable that you can afford, that you can feel comfortable purchasing. Have them sit on it. You want to make sure that your bicycle that you're buying from has the mechanic check it out before you buy it. Make sure it fits your child and make sure your child can work the breaks. Talk to your child. Are they comfortable with hand breaks or are they feeling better with peddle brakes? You want to make sure your child is comfortable with your purchase. Don't buy them a bike because it's the cheapest one in the store and don't by them a bike because it's the most expensive one in the store. Talk to your child. Let them be the decision maker (with some judgment from you) on what bike is best for them.
Should I buy a bicycle that my child can "grow into"?
The best way to make sure that your child is safe on the bike that you're going to buy is: number one; he's properly fitted for that bike. You can only do that when the bike is purchased with the child there. So, you have the child sit on the bike. See where his legs hit the pedals. Make sure that his foot is coming in complete contact with the pedal. You don't want to buy a bike, and this is a common mistake parents do, that he'll grow into. You can't grow into a bicycle safely. He'll probably fall off the bike and hurt himself way before he's grown into that bike. So, you buy a bike with your child's present age, weight, and size in mind. You buy it for that day he's going to be riding. You don't buy a bicycle that he's going to grow into it at 11 when he's 7, and for which he won't be ready for several years. Always make sure they are properly fitted for that bike. There are simple ways you can tell. Make sure he can touch the ground easily, get off and on the bike without your help, and that he feels comfortable doing so. Also, make sure that he can get off the bike really quickly. Have him do all those things, take a look, and make sure that he's comfortable with that bike. Then make sure that he can reach the handlebars properly, that he can get to the pedals properly, and that he can squeeze the handbrakes. If you decide to get handbrakes, make sure he has the strength to squeeze those handbrakes. Let him ride around the parking lot. Tell the bicycle people that you'd like to take him out in the parking lot; let him ride the bicycle to see if he's comfortable with it. They want to make the sale. They'll work with you. As a consumer, you have the right to have that test ride.
How do I properly check my child's bike to ensure its safety?
As the parent, each and every time your child rides their bike, all you need to do is a 30 second check. You go out and check the front tyre by simply squeezing it with your fingers to make sure it is properly inflated. Check the front tyre, check the back tyre. The second thing you want to do is spin the tyres and make sure that the tyres are straight. All you do is look down; you'll be able to see if they are not. Check the spokes to make sure that there are no loose spokes that could get caught. If you child has a light reflector in the bicycle, make sure it's securely in the spokes so it's not gonna wiggle and come loose. Then grab the seat with both hands. Wiggle it sideways, push down, pull up; make sure that seat is really secure. Check you handlebars. Stand in front of your child's bike, put the tyre between your legs and squeeze your knees. Push down with all your might on the handle bars. Wiggle them left and right, push down and pull up. The handle bars should not move. If you do all those things each and every time; the bicycle is in good shape. Listen to your bike. If it's making a funny noise then check it out. There may be something for which you need to take the bike in and have the bike mechanic do. If you can tighten a bolt here and there that's oftentimes not enough. If the bike seems like it's making a different noise than it did the day before, take it in and get a tune up.
What are the basic bicycle safety rules every child should learn?
Well, every time you go out on a bike, it's really important that you go over the bike safety rules for your child, whether you're riding with them or if they're going to ride in the neighborhood. But the basics are, get to know the laws in your own community. Some communities allow children to ride on the sidewalk. Get to know those basic laws. You can get that from your local police department or from your councilperson, whoever you feel is knowledgeable about that. Track it down and find out what is allowed by law. Now the basics that parents need to talk to their children about is stopping at all the traffic signs and traffic signals and making sure your child understands what those traffic signs and traffic signals mean. Also, the basics, if your child is going to ride on the sidewalk, make sure they're aware of people backing in and out of driveways. Make sure that if they're riding their bikes on the sidewalk, that they are being aware that pedestrians have the right of way and they have to ride responsibly. But the biggest reason that parents need to be aware of what their child is doing, if a child's riding on the sidewalk, they cannot go directly into the street. They have to stop, get off their bike, and walk across the street in the crosswalk. That's why it's called a crosswalk. Children have to make sure that they don't ride into the street, whether it's from the driveway or from the sidewalk. They have to get off and walk. But those are rules that a parent needs to be going over with their child every single time they go out; just a quick reminder. if your child doesn't seem to be able to grasp a lot of that, you need to supervise them. It's my recommendation that parents should supervise their children up until the age ten. But if your kid is ten years old and still doesn't understand the basics of traffic safety, you need to be with them, or take and ride your bike somewhere else: take it to the park, take it to a bike lane. take it to a bike path. Ride away from cars until you, as the parent, feel like your child understands and respects traffic and has a true understanding of the principles of traffic safety.
