Riding a bicycle is a fun and healthy activity for children as well as adults, provided proper safety precautions are followed. Equipment is important, but the International Bike Fund stresses first and foremost that a child must know how to ride safely and follow safety rules. Protective gear for a child who is riding a bike comes second. Nevertheless, protective equipment is a vital part of bike safety, preventing injuries and saving lives.
Bicycle
The first piece of protective gear a child needs is the bike itself. A bike that is the wrong size or not properly maintained creates hazards instead of reducing them. Kids Health says you should have a child stand over the top tube of the bike. The top tube is the horizontal part connecting the seat assembly to the handlebar assembly. For road bikes, there should be 1 to 2 inches of clearance between the top tube and the crotch. For trail/mountain bikes, the clearance needs to be 2 to 5 inches. Next, have the child sit on the bike and make sure the seat is at a comfortable height and that the child can grasp the handlebars comfortably and without strain. Ask a bike shop professional to help children select and adjust bikes. The right bicycle provides better control, lowering the chances of an accident. The bike also must be properly maintained. This is especially true of tires and brakes. A failure in either can result in an accident and injury.
Helmet
Of all bicycle safety gear other than the bike itself, a helmet is by far the most important, according to the International Bike Fund. A bike helmet should bear a sticker verifying that it meets Consumer Products Safety Commission or comparable standards. The helmet should sit level on the child's head and cover the forehead. It should not rock from side to side. Some forward and backward movements are OK, provided the helmet will not slip down over a child's eyes. The helmet and chinstrap must be snug enough to stay in place in a fall. If you can slide one finger between the child's face and the chinstrap, it's tight enough.
Clothing
Hand scrapes are the most common form of ground-contact injury for bike riders, according to the International Bike Fund. This risk is greatly reduced if a child wears leather-palmed bike-riding gloves. Loose-fitting pants legs should be avoided if they can catch in the bike chain or spokes. Shoes that are nonskid and will grip the pedals are also important. Running shoes or sneakers are fine, but flip-flops, cleats and heels should be avoided. Clothing that is brightly colored increases the child's visibility. Visibility can be further enhanced by choosing reflective clothes or adding reflective tape.
Accessories
Bike Safety emphasizes the value of headlights. Even in the daytime, a headlight makes a child on a bike more visible to drivers. Modern headlights are relatively easy to maintain because of longer battery life. Placing the light on the child's helmet adds an extra measure of protection. When the child looks at a car, the headlight will be pointed directly at it. Adding a taillight further promotes safety. A horn is another useful safety device.
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