Safe Bicycling...
When a child receives a first bicycle, a lifelong pattern of vehicle operation is begun. The bicycle is not a toy but a speedy means of transportation which is subject to the same laws as motor vehicles.
Children Must Be Trained In Bicycle Operation
1. Until the child has observed to ride confidently and to follow basic rules of the road, riding must be restricted to sidewalks, paths, and driveways.
2. To demonstrate basic competence the child must be able to
- Stop the bicycle quickly by using the brakes.
- Start riding without wobbling out of a path one yard wide.
- Stop and dismount without falling.
- Ride in a straight line near the curb.
3. The most important rules of the road are:
- Stop at intersections where the walk, driveway, or alley intersects a street (75% of child-bike accident deaths occur where driveways, alleys, and streets intersect.)
- Ride to the right of the road, with traffic.
- Do not ride at or after dusk.
- Obey all traffic signals and stop signs. Wait for green light.
4. Children who ride unsafely should be disciplined so as to establish the significant and real concern of the parents. Prohibiting the use of a bike is an appropriate disciplinary step.
5. The following factors are frequently associated with preventable injuries.
- Inadequate rider visibility.
- Riding a borrowed bike.
- Riding double.
- Not using a protective helmet.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Committee on Accident and Poison Prevention
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