Bicycle Safety
Wear your helmet:
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Wearing a helmet correctly (FLAT on your HEAD and fastened SNUGLY) protects your head and brain while riding a bicycle. Most bicycle crashes the rider falls forward hitting the top of the headfirst. This is why a helmet, while worn correctly, can help protect your brain from injury.
Is it safer to ride a bicycle while wearing a helmet compared to not wearing one? Yes! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash results show that when riding with a helmet properly the rider is less likely to be killed from head injury, compared to those who have crashed without wearing a helmet. Many states in the United States require bicycle helmets to be worn by children and adults depending on location. Check with your local law enforcement agency to make sure. But even without a law requiring a rider to wear a helmet, anytime you ride a bicycle, skateboard, scooter, or roller blades/skates, by wearing certified helmet correctly (FLAT on your HEAD and fastened SNUGLY) will help to protect your head from brain injury. |
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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