Safe cycling these holidays
MIDRAND - The Pedal Power Association of South Africa is urging parents to teach their children to be safe cyclists through leading by example during the school holidays.
The association said South African roads are public spaces and cyclists have the right to ride their bicycles on them. However, riding a bicycle on public roads is a huge responsibility and it is vital that children are made aware of the rules of the road as well as how to handle a bicycle in a safe and responsible way.
The association said learning to cycle is a rite of passage for many children and has the added benefits of health and fitness. Teaching children to travel effectively by bicycle as they get older develops patience, discipline, self-reliance and personal responsibility.
General manager of the association Karin Pohl said, “Riding with children affords a parent the opportunity to supervise their cycling, especially at… street crossings. Parents should model consistent behaviour by stopping and looking both ways before proceeding, and invite the child to assist in assessment of traffic conditions.”
She said although many parents and children are tempted to think of sidewalks as safe places for children to ride, travelling any distance on a sidewalk inevitably results in crossing intersections and driveways or crossing roadways mid-block. Cycling on pavements is illegal in South Africa unless there is a specific cycle path on the pavement.
When riding with a child to supervise their cycling, an ideal riding position is slightly behind and to the right of the child, with the child setting the pace. This position allows the parent or instructor to watch and communicate with the child, while also forcing overtaking traffic to pass further away from the child
Children between the ages of seven and 10 can develop the necessary traffic and handling skills to operate safely on low speed, low traffic two-lane residential streets. By their early teens, they can develop the skills to handle multiple lane streets.
“Although some cyclists may prefer more direct, larger roads depending on their travel objectives, low traffic streets and dedicated cycle paths are often the most enjoyable places to ride for a wide variety of cyclists,” concluded Pohl.
Details: www.pedalpower.co.za
