childsafety bicycles

							Tykes 'N Bikes
   Kids love their bicycles.
However, that affinity does not
change the fact that about 250
children are killed and more than
350,000 children go to emergency
rooms each year due to bicycle
injuries, more than any other
sport. Bikes are associated with
more childhood injuries than any
other consumer product other than
automobiles. To keep the joy in
biking:
No Helmet, No Bicycle
    Bike helmets reduce the risk of
serious head injury by 85 percent.
According to the Children's
                                          age 8, children should ride with adult      Put reflectors on the front and
National Medical Center, universal
                                          supervision and off the street. The      rear of the bicycle, on the pedals, and
use of bicycle helmets by children
                                          decision to allow older children on      on the wheels.
ages 4 to 15 would prevent between
                                          the street depends on traffic patterns      Wear close fitting clothing to
135 and 155 deaths and between
                                          and individual maturity.                 avoid getting caught in moving parts.
39,000 and 45,000 head injuries
                                             Check your brakes before you get        Never wear headphones because
each year.
                                          on the bike.                             they hinder your ability to hear the
   The child should participate in the
                                             Ride on the far right and travel     traffic around you.
selection of the helmet to assure a
                                          with the flow of traffic. It is never    Finding The Right Bicycle
proper fit. Do not buy one that a
                                          safe to ride against traffic.                 Parents, choose a bicycle that fits
child can "grow into."
                                             Stop at stop signs and red lights,   the child's size today, not one she
   A helmet should have a snug, but
                                          and obey all traffic laws.               will grow into later. The bike should
comfortable fit. It should have a chin
                                             Do not ride two abreast unless       fit the rider's ability and kind of
strap and buckles that will stay
                                          you are on a bike path.                  riding. To be sure your child's bike is
securely fastened. A properly
                                             Stop at the end of the driveway to   the right size:
adjusted helmet covers both the front
                                          look for cars.                                -sitting on the seat with hands on
and back areas of the head.
                                             Be predictable. Don't do anything    the handlebar, your child must be
   All helmets manufactured or
                                          that would surprise the driver of a      able to place the balls of both feet on
imported for sale must meet a
                                          car, like swerve or act foolish.         the ground.
uniform Consumer Product Safety
                                             Signal when making a turn. Let            -straddling the center bar, he
Commission standard. Look for the
                                          motorists know what you are doing        should be able to keep both feet flat
certification. However, helmets that
                                          by using proper hand signals.            on the ground with about 1"
meet ASTM, ANSI or SNELL
                                             Don't ride too close to parked       clearance between the crotch and the
standards provide adequate
                                          cars. The driver may open his door in    bar.
protection.
                                          your path. Leave at least 3 feet              -when buying a bike with hand
   Never buy a used helmet. Do not
                                          between you and parked cars.             brakes, be sure the child can
use a helmet that has been dropped,
                                             Avoid broken pavement, loose         comfortably grasp the brakes and
or involved in a collision.
                                          gravel and leaves.                       apply sufficient pressure to stop the
   Don't use markers on helmets.
                                             Don't ride at night, and in wet      bike. Under ages 6-7, buy a bike with
    And keep this is mind: If parents
                                          weather.                                 foot brakes.
wear helmets when they bicycle,
                                             Don't clown around. Never hitch         Look for rubber-treated pedals, or
about 98 percent of kids wear them,
                                          a ride on a moving vehicle or do         metal pedals with serrated rattrap
too. If parents don't wear helmets,
                                          stunts or wheelies on a road with cars   edges. Avoid plastic pedals.
the number drops considerably.
                                          and trucks.                                 Don't get a bike with gears for a
Rules To Ride By                             Be seen. Wear light colored          small child.
  Take a bicycle safety course.          clothing when you ride, including a
  The American Academy of                brightly colored helmet.
Pediatrics recommends that under


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