Cycling is a fun and healthy activity…
There are an increasing number of children who don’t know how to ride a bicycle 
Parents or caregivers should educate children on how to ride a bicycle in a safe manner.
Stats
Over the last 5 years there have been 70 crashes that involved cyclists of which one was fatal, thirteen was serious, and thirty six received minor injuries. Only twenty of these cyclists were between 10 and 16 years old. Although these numbers seem high, it is much less than the 3,816 motor vehicles that have been involved in crashes over the same period.
Cyclists are more at risk because they hardly have any protection. It is therefore paramount to wear an approved cycle helmet and to fit it properly.
Bicycle safety checks:
1. Check the tyres: Are they in good shape? Are they the right pressure?
2. Check the wheels. Do they spin freely?
3. Check the lights: Do they work? Are the reflectors secure?
4. Check the brakes: Are they too stiff or too loose?
5. Check the seat and the handlebars: Are they properly adjusted? Are they comfortable?
6. Check the fit: Are you comfortable? Do you have good control?
Rider Safety Checks:
- Helmet
- Visibility
- Skills
Common risks for cyclists:
- Car doors opening
- Not seen by motorists
- Objects on the road
- Cut off by motorists
Usual complaints about cyclists:
- They don’t follow road rules
- Block traffic flow
- Unpredictable
- Not visible enough
Children's limitations in traffic:
Children are not minature adults. It's important to understand their limitations in traffic situations. Particularly, children:
- Have narrower field of vision than adults, about 1/3 less.
- Cannot easily judge a car's speed and distance.
- Believe that if they can see a car, its driver must be able to see them.
- Cannot readily tell the direction a sound is coming from.
- May be impatient and impulsive.
- Concentrate on only one thing at a time - this is likely not to be traffic.
- Have a limited sense of danger.
- Often mix fantasy with reality.
- Imitate the (often bad) behavior of others, especially older children and adults.
A child under the age of 10 should not ride on the road without adult supervision
Things parents should know about kids
- Give your child only as much independence and responsibility as s/he can handle safely. Throughout childhood, children slowly develop the cognitive, perceptual and sensory skills necessary to be safe in traffic.
- Remember that each child is unique. Children of the same age may require different levels of supervision in traffic.
- Evaluate your child's behavior out of traffic. Is s/he impulsive? Does s/he stop to think before acting? Distractable? Can s/he sustain attention on something important? Is s/he a risk-taker? It is likely that your child's behavior in traffic will resemble behavior out of traffic.
- Consider any limitations your child has and how these might influence his or her behavior in traffic. For example, does your child have vision problems? Hearing impairment? Cognitive or judgment limitations? Physical handicaps?
- Give your child practice in traffic. Frequent supervised experiences can help children develop good traffic safety habits.
- Teach your child the rules of bicycle safety as you encounter traffic situations. Ask your children to repeat rules back to you.
- Do not assume your child will follow the rules just because s/he can verbalize them. Let your child lead you in traffic to help you assess how well s/he follows the rules. Set up situations with your child in which you shadow him/her (walk 3 – 5 metre behind) to allow semi-independence.
- Grant independence in small steps to see how your child handles it. For example, let your child progress from playing in front of the house to playing on the block, to walking around the block, to crossing one street, etc.
- Always model appropriate traffic safety practices yourself, whether you are walking, cycling or driving! Children learn from ‘important’ people around them.
- Be a careful driver, watch for children who may not yet have developed good traffic safety habits. Their safety is in your hands.
Tips to help your child become a better and safer cyclist
- Start teaching them when they are young – start at home or in a quiet park.
- After your child has gained enough confidence and skills, progress to a footpath, then a quiet suburban street and finally a busy street.
- Lead by example – guide them by demonstrating safe riding using your own bicycle
- Make it a fun thing to do – they should enjoy it and look forward to the next time you take them out
- Let them wear a helmet from start and explain why it’s safer to do so
- Teach them to always wear bright clothes to be visible to other traffic
- Show them how to look out for hazards like vehicles, pedestrians, especially not to play behind parked cars!