Safe cycling with your children
Riding a bicycle on public roads is a responsibility and children should be made aware of the rules of the road.
Parents can teach their children about safe cycling by going out with them and leading by example.
Teaching children to travel effectively by bicycle develops patience, discipline, self-reliance and personal responsibility. Parents should consider matching route selection and adult supervision to the developmental and skill levels of the child.
According to the general manager of the Pedal Power Association, Ms Karin Pohl, riding with children affords a parent the opportunity to supervise their cycling, especially at edge locations such as street crossings.
“Parents should model consistent behaviour by stopping and looking both ways before proceeding and invite the child to assist in the assessment of traffic conditions,” she said.
Although several parents and children are tempted to think of sidewalks as safe places for children to ride, traveling any distance on a sidewalk results in crossing intersections and driveways, or crossing roadways mid-block.
This is illegal in South Africa unless there is a specific cycle path on the pavement. Cycling on the wrong side of the road, which is illegal in South Africa, is a leading contributor to car-bicycle crashes.
When supervising a child who is cycling, ride slightly behind and to the right of the child, with the child setting the pace.
This allows the parent to watch and communicate with the child, while diverting overtaking traffic to pass at a larger distance from the child.
Cycling has health and fitness benefits. It is an easy way to burn calories and to learn co-ordination.
The Pedal Power Association of South Africa has provided information that parents should share with their children from an early age:
r You must always wear a helmet.
r You must ride in single file.
r Do not hold onto any other vehicles.
r You may not deliberately swerve from side to side.
r Do not carry another person or object that prevents you from seeing where you are going and from having complete control over your bicycle.
r If you are riding on a road with a bicycle lane, you must use that lane.
r You may ride on any road except on a freeway or a road closed to cycling.
r Obey all traffic laws.
Checklist before your bike ride:
r Are the tyres free of holes?
r Are the wheels pumped hard enough?
r Are the wheels tightly secured?
r Are the brakes working?
r Are the gears working as they should?
r Is the chain clean and well oiled?
r Is the handlebar and saddle firmly fixed?
r Are there any cracks in the frames or forks?
r Do you have a saddle bag with emergency spares attached to the bicycle that includes a spare tube, a patch kit and tyre levers?
r Do you have lights and reflectors on the bicycle? Lights and reflectors should be red at the back and white at the front.
For more information, visit www.pedalpower.org.za
@BedfordEdenvale
