Bicycle Safety
Wear your helmet:
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Wearing a certified bicycle helmet correctly (FLAT on your HEAD and fastened SNUGLY) protects your head and brain while riding a bicycle. It can decrease the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by 65% to 88%, and facial injury to the upper and mid face by 65% (Høye, 2018; Thompson, 2000).
Proper Helmet Fit & Use is Key to Safety
How does a properly fitted helmet protect you during a crash? In most bicycle crashes, the rider falls forward over the top of the handlebars and hitting the front top of the head, first. As shown in the following diagrams, these are examples that when wearing a helmet FLAT on your HEAD and fastened SNUGLY protects your head and brain from injury, from landing on this part of your head. NOTE: Remember, never wear your helmet tilted back on your head like a hat (where your forehead is exposed). This will not protect your head. As shown in these examples, when the helmet is worn flat on the head and fastened snugly, allows the head and face to be protected from impact. 
Is it safer to ride a bicycle while wearing a helmet compared to not wearing one? Yes!
Bicycle crash results show that when wearing a helmet correctly (flat on head and fastened snugly) the rider is less likely to be killed from head injury, compared to those who have crashed without wearing a helmet (Olivier & Creighton, 2017). Many countries and regions/states, require bicycle helmets to be worn by children and adults (Esmaeilikia et al., 2018). Check with your local authorities for specific laws. Overall, even if your country or locality does not have a helmet law requirement, you have the ability to keep yourself safe from fatality and severe injury by wearing a certified bicycle helmet flat on your head and fastened snugly, every time you ride. NOTE: Similarly, when riding a skateboard, scooter, or roller blades/skates, by wearing a certified helmet will also help to protect your head from injury or fatality. |
Types of Bicycle Carriers as Children Grow
BIKE TRAILER
As an injury and neuroepidemiologist, as well as a parent, as your child grows, they reach developmental milestones that can indicate their readiness to ride a bike. Starting them off younger with a proper fitted helmet, even bike gloves and shorts, etc. as they grow helps them begin to understand the types of safety and other types of equipment for use. Beginning with a bike trailer, you may notice significant progress in their abilities overtime. A bike trailer attaches do your bike. Some of these are single or double. I recommend the double. This way if you have another child or a play date to come along, they have room. If not, having additional space for a few toys, book, etc. if always helpful. The back of the trailer usually has a small space for additional supplies. Some trailers also convert with a handle to push your child once at your destination. Therefore, locking your bikes up, then using pushing your child around, etc. This is also helpful if your child becomes, tired or need a nap. Using trailers on boardwalks, or specific bike routes are a great starter location for these. Remember while the bike trailer is great for longer rides, having running and activities games when you take a break at a part or beach, it recommended, since your child is sitting the entire ride, especially as they get older.
TAGALONG
The tagalong, is also a great next step after the bike trailer, as your child begins to ride smaller bikes with training wheels. The tagalong attaches to the back of your bike and has stationary handlebars, a seat of course, and pedals to power the one wheel. This is great for longer rides, so if your child gets tired, they are being pulled. In the beginning with my daughter, we attached the trailer to the tagalong. This makes it longer, but helpful because she wanted to ride the bike, but when she would get tired, she could sit and/or sleep in the trailer behind the tagalong. This is great for longer rides as well.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES BEYOND THE BIKE TRAILER AND TAGALONG
The following stages is a general guideline for parents to assess their child’s readiness to transition from a bike trailer to riding a bike on their own, keeping in mind when younger, if on a long ride, they might still need the tagalong or trailer at times.
As an injury and neuroepidemiologist, as well as a parent, as your child grows, they reach developmental milestones that can indicate their readiness to ride a bike. Starting them off younger with a proper fitted helmet, even bike gloves and shorts, etc. as they grow helps them begin to understand the types of safety and other types of equipment for use. Beginning with a bike trailer, you may notice significant progress in their abilities overtime. A bike trailer attaches do your bike. Some of these are single or double. I recommend the double. This way if you have another child or a play date to come along, they have room. If not, having additional space for a few toys, book, etc. if always helpful. The back of the trailer usually has a small space for additional supplies. Some trailers also convert with a handle to push your child once at your destination. Therefore, locking your bikes up, then using pushing your child around, etc. This is also helpful if your child becomes, tired or need a nap. Using trailers on boardwalks, or specific bike routes are a great starter location for these. Remember while the bike trailer is great for longer rides, having running and activities games when you take a break at a part or beach, it recommended, since your child is sitting the entire ride, especially as they get older.
TAGALONG
The tagalong, is also a great next step after the bike trailer, as your child begins to ride smaller bikes with training wheels. The tagalong attaches to the back of your bike and has stationary handlebars, a seat of course, and pedals to power the one wheel. This is great for longer rides, so if your child gets tired, they are being pulled. In the beginning with my daughter, we attached the trailer to the tagalong. This makes it longer, but helpful because she wanted to ride the bike, but when she would get tired, she could sit and/or sleep in the trailer behind the tagalong. This is great for longer rides as well.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES BEYOND THE BIKE TRAILER AND TAGALONG
The following stages is a general guideline for parents to assess their child’s readiness to transition from a bike trailer to riding a bike on their own, keeping in mind when younger, if on a long ride, they might still need the tagalong or trailer at times.
- Balance: By around age 3, children often begin to develop balance on a balance bike, which is crucial for future riding
- Coordination: At age 4, many children can confidently pedal a tricycle, enhancing their coordination skills
- Strength: By ages 5 or 6, most kids have the physical strength to manage a two-wheeler with training wheels, allowing them to practice balancing while still receiving support
- Motor Skills: Between ages 6 and 7, many children gain the necessary motor skills to ride a bike without training wheels, showcasing their readiness for independent riding
Bike Trailer
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Tagalong
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References
- Esmaeilikia, M., Grzebieta, R., & Olivier, J. (2018). A Systematic Review of Bicycle Helmet Laws Enacted Worldwide. Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety, 29(3).
- Høye A. (2018). Bicycle helmets - To wear or not to wear? A meta-analyses of the effects of bicycle helmets on injuries. Accident; analysis and prevention, 117, 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.03.026
- Olivier, J., & Creighton, P. (2017). Bicycle injuries and helmet use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology, dyw360. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyw360
- Thompson, D. C., Rivara, F. P., & Thompson, R. (2000). Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 1999 (2), CD001855. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001855
