Whether you bicycle for enjoyment, health or as an environmentally green means of transportation, sharing the experience with your child may sound appealing. Many cyclists take their toddlers and young children along for the ride, using bicycle seats designed to carry young passengers. There are dangers associated with most any activity, bicycling included, but proper equipment and rigorous adherence to safety precautions can reduce these dangers.
Risks
An estimated 43,000 cyclists were injured in traffic in 2007, according to Helmets.org. A National Institute of Health study reports that bicycle related injuries cost close to $200 million in 2003. Most bicycle injuries, however, do not involve motor vehicles. They may occur on sidewalks, bike paths or nature trails, because most bike accidents are bike versus bike, bike versus road or bike versus non-vehicular hazard.
More than a third of injuries to children in carriers occur when the bicycle falls while stationary, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. Parents may lean the bike against something, use the kickstand, or lose hold of the bike while mounting or dismounting while the child is in the bicycle seat. The weight and movement of the child can pose additional risks to even a seasoned cyclist. Injuries can also occur when the bicycle falls during a ride, or when the bicycle flips the riders over the front wheel because of an obstruction on the path.
Age and Weight Range
Both rear- and front-mounted bicycle seats are available to accommodate children up to 44 pounds. Follow manufacturer guidelines in terms of weight limits. Children under one year of age should not ride as passengers on bikes, as they have not yet developed the neck and back strength to handle the jostling. Child seats work well for kids up to three or four years old.
Front-Mounted Seats
Front-mounted child seats are widely used in Europe and Asia. These seats provide greater stability and maneuverability because the child's weight is over the front tire. This design also eases communication between the parent and the child. Getting on and off the bike is easier for parents when the child is in the front, and it is easier to get the child in and out of the seat. A unique risk of the front mounted seat, according to IBike, is that if the child drops something into the spokes it can seize the wheels and cause the bike and both passengers to flip over the front tire. This risk can be minimized by assuring that the child doesn't carry anything that could jam the front tire.
Rear-Mounted Seats
Rear-mounted seats should meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Children may be more vulnerable to scrapes and minor injuries to their arms and necks with rear seats, as they are not buffered from the ground by the handlebars.
Precautions
Your child should always wear a helmet when riding in a children's bike seat. Follow the child seat instructions, use the safety straps and follow other manufacturer precautions. Do not let your child carry anything she can drop into the spokes. Make sure the child's clothing doesn't have ties, strings or anything hanging down that can catch. Check your bicycle routinely for air pressure, braking and structural integrity. Exercise additional caution for hazards such as water, stones, holes and so forth. When riding with a child in the seat, you'll have less stability than on solo cycling excursions.
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