Bike Safety for Children
"Is a bike trailer or a bike seat the safest for my child while cycling
around with me?"
Both bike trailers and bicycle seats for young children have their pros
and cons. The bike trailer’s advantage is that it is considered
more stable than the seat; however, it is wider than the bike and can
cause problems in confined, tight spaces. A rear-mounted bicycle seat
provides the child with a better view of the road, but it also can cause
the bike to be more top-heavy. When a child shifts his or her weight in
the seat, it can lead to a tip-over and an Atlanta bicycle accident. Additionally,
when a parent gets off the bike, the weight of the child seat can cause
the bicycle to topple over.
Children riding in bicycle seats and bicycle trailers need to have adequate
neck strength to hold up their heads while riding. Typically, a child
cannot ride in a trailer or a bike seat until he or she is at least 12
months old. Although both trailers and seats have five-point harnesses
to keep children restrained, neither of them are designed to protect your
child fully from injuries in the event of an Atlanta bicycle crash. However,
the trailer’s external frame has been known to minimize a child’s
chance of serious injury because it can absorb impact.
Although the bicycle trailer is more expensive, the League of American
Bicyclists—as well as other experts—believe it is safer for
children. Our Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys at
The Kalka Law Group would like to remind you that the decision between a bicycle trailer and
a bike seat depends on the parent’s riding skill and the purpose
of travel.
If you and your children are injured in a bicycle crash due to a driver’s
negligence, please
call our office for a free consultation.