Always Inspect Your Child’s Bicycle Before Allowing them to Ride
Before riding your bicycle you should always inspect that bicycle to ensure that it is in proper working condition before going on a bike ride. Parents it is important for you to inspect your child’s bike to make sure that there aren’t any broken parts, that the tires are properly inflated, and that the brakes are properly working.
A Bicycle Helmet Can Prevent Head Injuries
Always make sure that you and your child always wears a [amazon_link id=”B007IJR6FI” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”]bicycle safety helmet[/amazon_link] and that it fits properly. A helmet can prevent injuries but it can also save your child’s life in the event of an accident. In fact some state and city laws require all bicycle riders to wear a helmet.
Bicycle Riders Must Follow the Same Rules as a Motor Vehicle
It is important when you are teaching your child to ride a bicycle that you teach them the rules of the road. Bicycles are technically a vehicle and must obey the same laws as all of the motor vehicles on the road.
- They must travel in the same direction as a motor vehicle.
- Stay on the proper side of the road when riding your bike.
- A bicycle rider must also obey traffic laws including using signals for turning, yield to on coming traffic, obey all traffic signals and signs, and follow the lane markings.
- Yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
- Stop at all stop signs.
- Slow down and look carefully before pulling out into an intersection that doesn’t have a stop sign.
- Ride in a straight line and don’t weave in and out of traffic.
- Be alert.
- Constantly scan for things in the road such as pot holes, cracks in the road, or other things in the road that can cause you to lose control of your bicycle.
- Always look before turning and use hand signals.
- Watch out for parked cars.
Make sure that you follow the rules when you are riding bikes together as a family. Children do pay attention and it is important for you to set a good example.
Do you and your family enjoy riding bicycles together?
Comments
18 responses to “Bicycling is Great Exercise and the Entire Family Can Enjoy Exercising Together”
This is a great idea. It is definitely something the entire family can enjoy, it’s healthy, and it’s a great way to help kids become mindful. They’ve got to look and listen and observe what parents are doing in order to be safe. Great article.
Yes, you need to always be looking around you when you are riding a bicycle.
Just bought my hubby a bike so we can enjoy biking with the kids. Now I am waiting for him to reciprocate.
I hope that you can enjoy a family bike ride soon and that you don’t have to go pick out your own bicycle Leigh.
last year I got on a bike for the first time in about 15 years!–SO much fun for the whole family.
I haven’t ridden a bicycle in a few years, in fact, some kid stole my bike a few years ago when I was living in an apartment complex.
last year we bought bikes and upgraded our kids bikes from the little ones… the no sidewalk thing drives me bonkers; the area where we live finally is getting back to that ‘neighborhood’ feel, which, now includes sidewalks, but a lot of the homes built in the ’80’s were built without them.
Thank you for sharing…
My neighborhood is fairly new and doesn’t have sidewalks. Wish it did because I would have a lot less yard too. 😉
I have yet to buy a bike for my son. What we have at home is a baby bike and his quad/ATV.
Does your son wear a helmet when he is riding his ATV Rebel? I would think some of the same tips could apply to ATV’s except in the US ATVs aren’t allowed on the street.
It’s definitely a lot of fun! I’m trying to convince my hubby to buy me a beach cruiser and maybe something for my little guy. They have the new kind without pedals but I think they could still get quite a good workout with it.
That would be fun Lexie. The breeze and clean air around the beach would make it a great place to get a workout.
I appreciate that you’re writing about this. Kids today are playing video games too much and not spending enough time outdoors playing or riding bikes. When I was a kid (there it goes, lol…) we were always outdoors.
Don I agree, I spent a lot of time outside when I was growing up. I don’t like my kids playing outside alone and I am a wimp when it comes to the heat. I will let them play on our street or where I can see them. I was allowed to go pretty much any where as long as my mom knew where I was going.
I love riding bikes and believe in safety. helmets are not the law here but most wear them.
I love when children are wearing a helmet. In fact, even though it is a law where I live most kids in the neighborhood don’t wear them. If my kids get on their bike, they must wear their helmet.
My son, daughter-in-law and grandkids go bike riding some weekends. There’s a nice bike trail along the river in Tucson that makes it easy to bike ride. You don’t have to worry about kids in traffic. You do have to ride early because it gets hot quickly in Tucson.
Thank you for sharing Deborah. Bike trails are a great way to ride bikes without having to worry about traffic.