On the road again—how to keep your cyclist safe
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Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start:
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The right fit
- children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground
- a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard
- the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's uncomfortable
Get noticed
- a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector
- older riders should have a light and/or reflectors
Follow the rules
- no riding on busy streets
- no riding at night
- stop for all STOP signs
Actions that cause injuries
- driveway ride out—not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street
- running the stop sign
- turning without warning
- cycling in the dark
- following the leader—one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the second cyclist doesn't