As a parent, you might be eager to gift your child the freedom and enjoyment a bicycle can bring. Yet, you might also be scared for their safety — and understandably so.
The following tips can help you keep your child safer when they’re on their bike.
1. Educate them in cycling safety
Parents are in the best position to teach their children roadway safety. Teach your kids how to cover the brakes so they can stop quickly when needed. Show them the best routes, making use of cycle lanes where they exist. Teach them etiquette around other road users. And teach them to ride defensively — because they need to know that not all drivers will be looking out for them.
2. Demonstrate good behavior
Children learn by example, so make sure that you provide the right one when you’re biking. Make sure you always wear your safety equipment, keep your focus on the road (and not on your cellphone or music) and obey the rules of the road.
3. Buy a well-fitting helmet
A well-fitting helmet can go a long way to protecting a young and still developing head. It’s normal for kids to fall off their bicycles, especially when they are first learning, so this can give you and them peace of mind. California law also mandates that anyone under the age of 18 must wear one when traveling on public roads, so it is good to get them used to one from the outset.
While taking such measures can increase your child’s safety, it’s important to remember that their safety also depends on others. If someone else is responsible for your child being injured in a bike accident, then you may need to learn how to hold them responsible for compensation.
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