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| |    General Principles for Bicycle Safety by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Kathryn Clark, M.D., F.A.A.P. By teaching--and enforcing--a few simple bicycle-safety rules, you can allow your child to enjoy riding a bike while at the same time minimizing the likelihood that he will be injured. Don't forget that as a parent, you serve as one of your child's most important role models, so once you establish these guidelines, they should apply to you as well as your child. Don't head off without a helmet Regardless of whether or not your town or city has laws regarding the wearing of bike helmets, this should be a hard and fast rule in your family when it comes to riding a bike. Make the best match possible If your child is getting a new bike, make sure the one you buy is not too big. Otherwise, it will be more awkward to ride, which creates a greater chance of your child hurting himself. If you're not sure how to tell, don't hesitate to ask for assistance at the store. And be sure to keep the bike in good working condition. You'll want to give it an annual spring checkup, as well as routinely check tire pressure and brake function. Watch what you wear You may have noticed that bell-bottoms are back in style--and not just among teenagers. However, when it comes to riding a bike, safety should overrule fashion. Secure loose clothing so that it cannot get caught on the pedals, chain, or anything else. Handy Velcro strips can fasten wide pant legs around the ankle and some are designed to serve as reflectors as well. Ride on the right When riding a bike along the street, teach your child to ride with traffic, on the right-hand side of the road (in countries where cars drive on the right, that is!). Rules of the road Teach your child that stop signs and traffic lights should be taken as seriously by bike riders as they are by drivers. Make sure they learn to always look carefully in every direction before entering the street or biking in an area open to traffic. Get outfitted with reflectors It doesn't matter whether your child wears a reflective helmet, jacket, or shoes or simply has reflectors attached to his bike. The bottom line is, the more visible he is when it's dark outside, the better. Don't double up Most parents would be hard-pressed to say that they had never doubled on a bicycle before. But unfortunately, this seemingly popular form of transportation is dangerous and shouldn't be allowed. There's no getting around it: Carrying a second passenger on the handlebars or on the rear of the bike is likely to cause an accident. Send out the right signals Teach your child to use hand signals to let others know when he intends to turn right, left, or stop. Use common sense Take into account your child's riding ability and the visibility (as well as street, weather, and traffic conditions) when allowing him to take his bike out. Permitting your child to ride after dark generally is not a good idea and should be avoided whenever possible. Also make it a point to stress to your child that racing and stunt riding are very dangerous and not allowed.
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