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10 Basic Safety Rules When Biking With Kids

Teach Your Kids To Safely Ride a Bike, and Enjoy Family Quality Time Rides Together!

So you want to teach your child to ride a bike? —that’s great! Bike riding is fun, it’s a fantastic exercise, and it definitely adds to quality family time! Wondering what are the basic bike safety rules you could follow to ensure your child avoids injury when learning? You hit the right post!

Below are 10 Top Safety-related things you can do to keep both you and your child safe while enjoying your next biking adventure

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You may also be interested in:

• Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow
• Fort to Fort – Fun & Easy Bike Trail Near Langley Even a Toddler Can Do!
• Cool Rainy Day Activities & Awesome Things To Do With Kids in Vancouver
• 5 Tips Baby-Proofing AirBnB, Hotel, or Vacation Rental When Traveling With Kids
• Review: KidORCA Rain Boots For Kids

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Rule 1: Wear a Bike Helmet

As per Canada Safety Council: “head injuries cause most bicycle-related deaths and can result in serious injury such as brain damage. Up to 88 percent of serious head bike injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet.”

“Wear a helmet” is absolutely the number one bike safety rule for both: children and adults.

It is critical for both you and your child to wear a bike helmet at all times when riding a bike. Look for an age-appropriate, lightweight helmet in local stores. We would not recommend buying a helmet online, as there is no way to try it out to confirm the proper fit. So get to the store with your little one, try out a few options, select one that fits best!

To reduce the risks even further, opt-in for a CSA International – certified helmet model.

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Rule 2: Be Visible

Make sure your child can be seen easily. Just the same as discussed in our recent post “Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow” bright color and reflective clothing should be your top choices to keep the family safe. Especially true when you just started teaching kids to ride a bike.

Your bicycles should be equipped with reflectors already. If they are not, get some reflective stickers at a local hardware store. You can even stick some extra to your kid's helmet and clothing.

The more visible you are to the other bike riders, hikers and car traffic, the safer you are. Also, try not to bike at dusk or at night. At the very minimum do not let your kids ride in the dark by themselves.

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Rule 3: Appropriate Biking Clothes

The right fitting clothing is important for both: comfort and safety, and as a means to prevent injury while biking. Loose-fitting clothing should be avoided as they can be easily trapped in the wheels.

It is also not a good idea to ride in flip-flops or bare feet for all kinds of reasons, preventing injury to toes while cycling is just one of those. Make sure your child wears closed-toe sturdy shoes.

Make sure your child never wears headphones while riding: they need to be able to hear oncoming traffic, and your voice giving directions.

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Rule 4: Get Age-Appropriate Bike

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When choosing a kids' bike, make sure the model is the correct size for your child, and that is a lightweight. A bike that’s too big or too heavy makes it increases the risk of injuries. There is no “growing into it” when it comes to any sports equipment, not just bikes.

Common rules of thumb to prevent bike fall injuries: the kids' feet should firmly reach the ground when he/she is seated.

Make sure the type of bike matches your little one's abilities. We would recommend starting off your toddler with a tricycle or a bike with training wheels first until they can firmly hold their balance. If your child never rode a bike before, gears and shifting can be very confusing. We recommend at least at the beginning start with a one-speed and work up as they learn and feel more confident.

In addition, regardless of age, at a very minimum, your own bike and your child’s first bike should have a bell and reflectors.

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Rule 5: Regular Bike Maintenance

Keep your child's bicycle in good maintenance. Inspect it before every ride.

To prevent bicycle fall injuries, at the very minimum check the following: the brakes, the tire pressure, the tightness of the chain.

It is also a good practice to check the seat height – kids grow fast, you may finding yourself adjusting the seat height more often than you'd think! 🙂

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Rule 6: Start Biking Away From Car Traffic

When you just start teaching your child to ride a bike, it is best to avoid busy streets. But even an empty street might not be the best fit. Cars pulling out of driveways or turning onto a street are a common cause of bicycle fall injuries.

It is best to select a well maintained but not too busy park trail away from all the cars. ….and away from many people too!

Here are some of the absolutely cool accessible easy bike trails near Vancouver, Canada, which are perfect for teaching your child to ride!

• Fort to Fort – Fun & Easy Bike Trail Near Langley Even a Toddler Can Do! (Langley)
• Stunning Toddler Bike Training Spot Located! (Pitt Meadows)
• Gold Star Stroller-Accessible Golden Ears Provincial Park Nature Trail (Maple Ridge)
• Bird-Lover Heaven! Dazzling Home Of Pacific Great Blue Heron (Chilliwack)

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Rule 7: Teach Kids To Control & Stop The Bike

Bicycle fall injuries could be quite serious. Before you let your child get on a bike, teach them safe controls.

One of the must-follow rules is: both hands should be kept on the bike’s handlebars. No headphones, books, water bottles, and other stuff – all of those items can be easily carried in a backpack.

It is also important to teach your child how to stop if they are riding too fast. Stopping could be done with breaks, but in an emergency situation it could also be done with pulling onto grass sidewalk and properly falling sideways.

Caution: there are thousands of youtube videos out there showing you what to do. However to prevent bike injuries, for proper stopping and bike controls techniques it is best to take certified bike riding courses for kids.

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Rule 8: Teach Rules of The Road

Did you also know that in addition to basic bike safety, knowing the rules of the road is of a must? It is important to remember, that a bike is technically a vehicle and not just a toy.

Before you teach your child to ride a bike, be sure to teach her/him the rules of the road. Even if he/she is just a toddler, below are simple basic rules to ensure safe biking for young children:

1. Always Stop at an Intersection.
   • Stop, look left, look right, and look left again.
   • Always walk the bike through an intersection.
2. Look around for cars coming out of driveways, parking spaces, and parking lots.
3. Obey all street signs, traffic lights, and crossing signals.

Once your child is comfortable riding a bike and is confident in her skill, then you can teach her all of the other rules, such as hand signals, how to ride on a street, etc.

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Rule 9: Always See Each Other

Do not lose sight of your kids, either bike with them, or walk/run alongside when teaching kids to ride a bike. Toddlers are usually super-slow, so no problem keeping up with them!

It is easy for a child to get carried away with his new toy and not realize he is lost, or find himself in the unfamiliar street. Make sure you are at the very least a safe distance away so he can hear you calling him to stop anytime. Also, teach them to always stop and look back to check if you are around.

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Rule 10: Talk Bike Safety Rules Through & Enforce Each Time

Young children get easily excited and forget it all. When you are teaching kids to bike, it is your job as a parent to remind them of safety rules each time before riding a bike.

Set the rules to follow when riding a bike, and talk them through before every biking outing.

Be firm.

You don't want to wear a helmet? – you don't ride.

Do you want to ride in your headphones? – you don't ride.

The bike safety rules and rules of the road must be followed, or else – you don't ride.

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[BONUS] Rule 11: Lead by Example

And of course, when teaching children to ride a bike, you as a parent should lead by example. Show your little ones that the bike safety rules are for everyone – not just the kids.

This means you yourself should wear a helmet, bright non-loose clothing, closed-toe shoes, no headphones. Make sure that your bike too is in good condition and has light reflectors. When riding a bike, make sure you stop fully at all intersections and stop signs.

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When it comes to teaching kids to ride a bike, Safety should be your top priority. All the basic rules listed above will help you prevent bike injuries and will ensure exciting family quality time!

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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