Bike safety is important, as evidenced by the 98 children killed in biking accidents in 2014. Wearing a properly fitted helmet can reduce head injuries by 45%, but less than half of children usually wear one. When choosing a bike, it should fit the child now and allow them to touch the ground. Parents should supervise children, teach them road rules, and ensure they ride safely in the right areas and with the proper gear, especially at night or in low visibility. Being distracted or without a helmet puts children at higher risk.

1. Bike Safety
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2. The Facts
• In 2014, 98 children aged 19 and younger were killed
in a biking related accident.
• Properly-fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head
injuries by at least 45 percent – yet less than half of
children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide, 2016
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3. Use your Head: Wear a Helmet!
• Wear a properly fitted bike helmet when riding a
bike.
• A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level
position, and should not rock forward, backward or side
to side.
• The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too
tightly.
• How do you know if your bike helmet fits properly?
• Check EYES: put the helmet on and look up. You should
be able to see the bottom rim of the helmet.
• Check EARS: make sure the straps form a “V” around the
ear that is snug, but comfortable.
• Check MOUTH: open your mouth as wide as you can. You
should feel the helmet snug down on your head.
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4. The Activity Determines the Helmet
• Did you know there are different helmets for
different activities?
• Wearing a bike helmet during a football game would
not do you much good, would it?
• Children should wear a helmet for all wheeled
activities.
• A bike helmet should be worn when biking, in-
line or roller skating, or scooting.
• When skateboarding or longboarding, your child
should wear a CPSC certified skateboarding
helmet.
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5. Picking a Bike
• When choosing a bike it is importing to select a
bike that the child fits now, not one that they can
grow into.
• When your child is sitting on the bike seat, their
feet should touch the ground.
• Before riding:
• Check brakes, check tire inflation, ensure reflectors are
secure, and helmet is properly fitted.
• Make sure your child is wearing the appropriate attire.
• Loose clothing can get caught in the wheels or gears and
cause an accident.
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6. While Riding
• Supervise your child until you are comfortable
and able to give them the responsibility of riding
on their own.
• Teach your child to watch for cars: both in the
road and in driveways.
• Every child is different, but most are unable to judge
the speed and distance of a vehicle until 10 years old.
• Children should understand and demonstrate the
rules of the road before being allowed to cycle
with traffic.
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7. While Riding
• Teach children to make eye-contact with drivers.
• This ensures that the driver sees your child on their
bike, and that your child is not assuming that they are
seen.
• Ride on the RIGHT side of the road, with traffic.
• Stay as far to the right as possible.
• Use pathways when possible.
• Learn and use appropriate hand signals.
• Follow the rules of the road as though you were in a
car:
• Stop at stop lights, stop signs, and street corners.
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8. Be Safe: Be Seen
• When riding in low light conditions such as early
morning, late evening, or during some weather
conditions when visibility is limited it is important
to wear the right clothing.
• Pick attire that is brightly colored, or retro-reflective.
• Ensure that your bike is equipped with retro-reflectors
as well.
• Use a headlight to make yourself visible.
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9. Ride Undistracted
• Riding a bike distracted can be just as dangerous
as driving distracted.
• Refrain from listening to headphones, talking on the
phone, and being distracted while riding a bike, or while
supervising your child who is riding.
• It is important that you are always alert and engaged in
your surroundings to be sure that you are aware of all
possible dangers and movements of vehicles.
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10. Bike Safety Tips
• Parents, you are the best model for safe behavior:
wear a helmet!
• Ride with your children! It is a great opportunity
to spend time together and be physically active.
• Riding with your child also ensures that you know what
they are capable of doing on their own, and may help
you to better judge when they are able to ride alone.
• Teach your child how to ride a bike safely, away
from the road in an area where falls will not be as
painful such as a grassy backyard.
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