Gearing up for National Bike Month

At Safe Kids we know there are many great reasons to ride your bike — it offers fun, freedom, and exercise, and it’s good for the environment- and we encourage kids and families to ride as much as possible.

It’s also important to think about how to stay safe. Did you know that more children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport? However, those injuries don’t have to happen.

During National Bike Month, help us spread the word about bike safety by talking with your children and sharing the following simple tips to keep bike riding safe and fun.

We have a simple saying: “Use your head, wear a helmet.” It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.

Tell your kids to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights.

Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers. Bikers should make sure drivers are paying attention and are going to stop before they cross the street.

When riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening, be bright and use lights- and make sure your bike has reflectors as well. It’s also smart to wear clothes and accessories that have retroreflectors as well. It’s also smart to wear clothes and accessories that have retro- reflective materials to improve biker visibility to motorists.

Actively supervise children until you’re comfortable that they are responsible to ride on their own. RITA SMITH