Kids and Bicycles: Facilitating Mobility, Independence, and Health
2020 Springby Taylor Lonsdale and Roger DiBrito
Taylor Lonsdale is a dad, cyclist, and engineer. Roger DiBrito is a grandfather, cyclist, and educator.
The mid-summer morning sun breaks over the Sapphire Mountains and lights up the Bitterroot Valley. A 12-year-old boy pedals down a gravel road to the neighbor’s field where he will move irrigation lines. It’s a five-mile round trip he makes twice a day for a summer job. Since age 5, both he and his sister have loved to ride bicycles around the property on dirt paths. Now in middle school, they ride about a mile to the bus stop at the end of their road. The fresh air and views wake up their senses and help them prepare for school.
Research has demonstrated the benefits of physical activity prior to learning. The ride home gives them time to process the school day. Experiencing the benefits of being outside and physically active before and after school may teach them ways to cope with stress that will be a critical skill for other phases of life.
Children are all capable of such bicycle journeys, and as parents or mentors, we can facilitate kids discovering the safe cycling skills. This requires us to understand a child's ability to ride a bicycle and his/her ability to judge situations and make decisions. Abilities vary with age, but we can evaluate them by giving kids space and making observations. A good strategy is to identify routes and then ride with kids, letting them lead, acting as a safety net, not the guide. Let mistakes happen in a safe environment. These small mistakes are the foundation of learning to problem solve. Ensure that you are modeling the behaviors you want children to learn and ask questions about the ride after getting home.
The fundamental skill needed for riding a bike is balance. Tools for learning balance have evolved and while many of us learned using training wheels, today’s balance bikes are a far better tool. Balance bikes can be purchased, but another option is to remove the pedals and lower the seat of a standard bike. Young children can start by walking atop a balance bike. Before long they will be coasting, turning, and stopping. Transition to a pedal bike is easier with a mastery of balance, and keeping the seat low during the transition allows children to put their feet down as they did on the balance bike.
Learning to ride a bike may naturally come with scrapes, bruises, and maybe some tears. Developing riding skills is key to avoiding injury, but children also need a properly-fit helmet to help avoid head injuries. The helmet should be snug but not tight, cover the forehead, and stay in place when the child moves (see link below). Children should be taught that light-colored clothing, lights, and reflectors help them be seen. In his National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) research, Kenneth Cross found that in most car-bicycle crashes, the vehicle driver “did not see the bicyclist” or when he did see the bicyclist, did not have enough time to avoid
Regular bike maintenance is important for safety and before each trip children should learn to check the ABCs (air, brakes, chain). Tires should have enough air to be firm, brakes should readily stop the bike, and the chain should be lubricated and not too loose. Many bicycles use quick releases for the wheels, which should be checked to ensure they are tight and firmly closed.
“Stop at the Edge.” Teaching children to stop before entering the roadway is fundamental to their safety. Stop at the edge of the driveway, sidewalk, or pathway. Look left. Look right. Look left. Look back behind. Teach them that looking is about seeing, not just turning their head. Ask them what they saw. Proceed onto the roadway only after conducting a complete and comprehensive search in all directions.
Intersections are a common place for car-bicycle crashes. Look back behind for a right-turning motorist and look through intersections for left turning motorists. Talk with a child about the importance of communicating with other road users. This means more than eye contact. We must receive cues, a smile or wave, to be certain they have seen us. Do not rely on traffic control lights or signals. Do not enter a crosswalk until it is clear all drivers acknowledge you are ready to cross. Help children understand how to communicate what they plan to do. Teach them to step back if they don’t feel safe to cross. Teach them to signal by pointing in the direction they plan to turn. Help them learn they need to be visible and predictable, following the rules of the road. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other roadway users. Ride on the right side of the road.
Many communities host events to teach bicycle safety skills and create a space for children to practice. They are often called Bike Rodeos and may be hosted by schools, law enforcement, local clubs such as Kiwanis, or Extension (see link to Cycling Skills Clinic Guide).
Taking the steps to teach a child to ride and allowing them to pedal to school or a friend’s house demonstrates trust and belief in a child. Bike rides are a great family activity. A lifetime of cycling can yield a lifetime of fun, health, and independence.
Helmet fitting: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/8019_fitting-a-helmet.pdf
NHTSA’s Cycling Skills Clinic Guide: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/811260.pdf