Riding bikes is not only a great form of exercise, but it can be relaxing and fun at the same time.  Riding with children can be a challenge, though.  Children need to be taught at a young age about bicycle safety, just as they need to learn about automobile safety.  In an automobile, children need to learn to get into a habit of using a seat belt, while on a childs bike; they need to learn about wearing a helmet.  Starting children to use these important safety steps at a young age will get them into the habit and they will always want to use a helmet and a seat belt.

Children on their bicycle need to also learn the rules of the road.  A child under the age of 10 should not be allowed on the road by themselves, as they are too young to develop and understand the rules.  A child is short and many times can not be seen by a car.  They often dart out in the road without thinking and are more accident prone.  A childs bike is not often seen, as children have a habit of playing behind cars in the drive way.  If someone does not know there is a child behind the car, the child and the bike will get hit.  Practicing safe playing is very important, not only on children’s bicycle, but in general.

The best place to ride with your younger children is to go to your local park or a play ground.  This way, you will be keeping your child safe and will not be in the traffic on the road.  You can easily set up scenarios for roads in which your child can practice their safety skills.  You can set up obstacles and have the children look before attempting to go into the path of traffic.  You can practice your hand signals.  The adult rides in front of the childs bike and makes hand gestures to turn and so the child can learn themselves.  There are so many different ways you can practice safety without actually being on the road.

An adult riding on the road with a child who rides in a bicycle child seat or in a childs bike trailer need also to take safety measures when on the road.  Always ride on the right side of the road, with the traffic, not facing the traffic.  Bicyclists need to remember to yield to vehicles and pedestrians on the road at all times.  Mirrors on your bike will help you to know what is behind and around you.  You also want to be sure to wear your helmet and put a helmet on your children if they are riding with you.  If you, as an adult, do not wear a helmet, you are not setting a good example, so you want to be sure you get into the same habits as your children do.