Children Need to Know How to be Safe
The majority of parents in this world teach their children many things in life, such how to ride a bicycle. Although parents have good intentions about teaching their children how to ride a bike, children are often not taught cycling skills that will keep them safe and reduce their chances of a Georgia bicycle accident.
Teaching a child how to ride a bike and cycling with kids is a very rewarding experience for parents, but parents also need to take the opportunity to teach their children cycling safety. This can also be rewarding for parents, knowing they are teaching their children skills that will last a lifetime.
While riding a bike may be considered an activity for children, parents need to let their children know from an early age that a bicycle is not a toy and that it comes with many responsibilities, including the following:
- Following road rules, since bicycles are considered vehicles.
- Wearing bicycle helmets, both because it is the law for anyone under 16 and because the helmet will protect their heads from serious injuries in the event of a bicycle accident.
- Practicing safe cycling, like always stopping at stop signs.
- Riding responsibly, such as wearing bright-colored clothing.
These lessons should be taught from the very first introduction to bicycle riding:
- First, young children first be introduced to bicycles by being seated in a trailer or in a child’s seat on the back of their parents’ bikes.
- Then, they may graduate to a tricycle.
- After that, children will either ride a balance bike or a bike with training wheels.
- Finally, children will graduate to a bicycle with two wheels.
Understanding a Parent’s Role
Riding with your children during each step is critical to their cycling safety. Along each of these stages, you should talk to your children and explain what you are doing and why. For example, if you are slowing, then mention to your children the reason, such as stopping at a stop sign or looking for oncoming traffic. Children will learn by your example. Additionally, you should caution your children about the dangers of cars pulling out of driveways and parking lots.
It is never too early to start teaching children cycling safety to help them avoid bicycle crashes in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. Although you may have had the best intentions in teach your children cycling safety skills, a negligent driver may have still injured your child or yourself. If you or your child was injured in an Atlanta bike accident, you may have rights to a recovery.
