Basic Cycling Safety Tips

Sometimes it can seem like cycling takes enough effort as it is, with setting aside time and plotting a route, but there's other stuff that is fundamental to every time you go out on a bike. It can be easy to get complacent if you live in a less-busier area, but wherever you set out from it's important to be aware of road safely.

The main thing is to watch out for cars. People might joke about motorist's intentions towards cyclists, but the actual dangers of busy traffic are very real. Make sure you leave room between yourself and traffic, and make sure you show you intent before committing to a manoeuvre. Learn to get into a routine of signalling even if there isn't any apparent traffic - it's better if it's engrained as a reflex. Also be careful not to stretch your arm out too far when signalling if there's traffic coming towards you.

There's also some essential safety equipment to consider. Wearing a helmet shouldn't be an option - always wear head protection and make sure that you're not leaving yourself vulnerable for no reason. If you're wearing a helmet when you're involved in a collision your chances of getting away with it are greatly improved.

You have to make sure that you can be seen clearly. Having the right lights is something that's an obvious legal obligation if you're cycling at night, but they're there for you too. For a motorist, it's near impossible to pick out an oncoming cyclist at night it they're not illuminated. If you want to make extra sure, it's a good idea to wear reflective gear and possibly helmet lights too.

All of this isn't just about your safety. For other road users to feel secure you have to make sure you take responsibility with your cycling, and are constantly aware too. Always perform a 'life-saver look' before you turn into a junction, and don't ride a bike that you think might be unsafe. It also pays to familiarise yourself with a new bike - you wouldn't be the first road bike user to forget how to get his or her feet out of stirrups.

Find a range of Bell helmets online.

The First Step in Learning to Ride a Bike is Safety

There are few things more liberating than the freedom and fun of riding a bike. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone in most children's lives, but like most things that offer such a tremendous reward, there is also a risk. Parents should spend time teaching their child the basics of bicycle safety and treat it as a required step in learning to ride a bike.

Head injuries account for more than 60% of all bicycle related fatalities involving young cyclists. Generally, kids dislike wearing a helmet. To encourage use, let them pick out their own helmet and remind them that the reason they have to wear it is because you would never want anything bad to happen to them. No helmet, no bike. Period.

For kids ten and under, most cycling accidents are caused by some lapse in judgment or loss of concentration. Kids injure themselves running into stationary objects like parked cars or mailboxes. They collide into each other or ride off the curb. Stress that being alert is even more important than wearing their helmet and riding safely matters. Let them know you are proud of their ability to make good decisions and ask them to be a leader when they are riding with friends.

As your son or daughter begins to roam more freely on their bicycle, sit down and discuss the new locations they'll be allowed to ride. Indicate danger spots; parked cars that obscure vision, active traffic spots, extreme hills and ensure they understand how they will deal with each circumstance.

For nearly all grownups, recognizing and reacting to traffic signs and regulations is usually 2nd nature, however we oftentimes fail to remember that youngsters have not taken driver's education classes. Show your youngsters the direction traffic should go, how to handle a 4-way stop and other intersections along with the significance of the traffic signs in his or her bike riding area.

When driving along with your youngster in the car, ask them if they know traffic signs and speak with them regarding exactly what they might do in the event that they were on their own bicycle rather than in the vehicle. Bring up illustrations of motorists that are not really paying sufficient attention and use that to demonstrate the significance of remaining alert.

Understanding how to ride a bicycle is really about one essential skill - balance. A lot of authorities suggest a great method that will not require training wheels. This has been the process within Europe for quite some time where many children learn to ride using a balance bike that has chain, pedals or sprockets and is powered by the child's feet.

While teaching your child to ride, make the lessons about balance, not pedals. In case you don't have a balance bike, take off the pedals, drop the height of the seat as low as it will go and permit the child to try out their sense of balance by walking the bike.

As they begin to get better at their balance, take them to the top of a small hill and let them coast down the hill, skimming their feet on the ground as they ride. This is going to hasten the learning process and help the health of your back as you won't always be the person continually pushing the bike around the neighborhood.

Always make sure that your child's bicycle is in good, working condition. Pay close attention the brakes, both front and back. These can degrade quickly when used frequently and kids have a way of improvising stops when they do. This may lead to a rapid deterioration of sneakers as they become the primary braking mechanism.

Check the tire pressure and rotation. Make sure all the spokes are intact and the gears and gear shifters are functioning. Check the seat, handlebars and tires to ensure nothing is loose.

Riding together is the perfect way to practice bike safety and its a lot of fun. Get out there and ride today!

Balance bikes work. I was astounded at how fast my 3-year-old learned and you will be too. We love the preBike from Strider from the youngest of riders.