Biking is becoming a popular activity for
families when they travel as part of a
Biking can be a lot of fun, exploring the many
bike trails that are now available in many cities and towns,
backroading along country roads and many resorts offer bicycle
rentals as a recreational activity.
Whether your family is taking bikes on vacation or renting
bikes at a vacation destination, there are some safety precautions
that all cyclists should be taught and rules of the road to follow
to ensure that riding a bike is done safely. It is also
important that equipment be sized properly and worn by cyclists at
all times.
In addition to the safety tips we offer, consider
attending a bike safety clinic that may be offered in your
community. Zellers will host bike safety clinics for
children and families all across Canada this spring. Contact
your local Zellers for dates, times and to get a copy of the
bike safety booklet.
Click on the List or Scroll the Page for Safety Tips:
Links for Safety Information
Fitting a bike
Making sure that the equipment you use is fitted
properly is an important part of safe cycling. This is
especially important for children. Learning to ride on a
bike that is too heavy or big, not fitted properly and even to
small can cause of loss of balance and control. Even parents
need to ensure that the bike they use fits properly.
You can tell if bike is the right fit if:
- The rider can straddle the crossbar with both feet flat on
the ground and have at least two to six inches of space
between the bike and the rider, depending on your riding
style.
- The seat is high enough so the rider can sit on it and still
be able to touch the ground with the balls of the feet, and so
that the legs almost – but not quite – fully extend at the
bottom of the pedal stroke.
- The rider can comfortably reach the handlebars when sitting
on the seat.
- For safety reasons, children should be able to place feet
flat on the ground when stopping.
See Travel News: Tips From Canadian Tire for Outfitting your Child with the Right Bike and Accessories
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Safety Rules
and Tips
It takes more than just skill to be a good cyclist. It also
takes smarts – particularly when cycling on busy streets. It is
important that parents teach their children the rules of the
road. It is also important that parents follow the rules of
the road. Teaching by example helps keep everyone
safe. Follow these safety tips:
- See Bike Safety
for bike safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
-
Always wear a Helmet - In Ontario and many other areas
anyone under 18 must wear an approved helmet - its the
law - even if it isn't the law and ensure that it is fitted
properly - click on image for more information - see Tips From Safe Kids Canada to Encourage Children to Wear Helmets
- Use proper hand signals - See Tips for Biking.
- Before making a lane change, turn your head to do a shoulder
check. First, make sure the lane your moving into is clear, do
another shoulder check and then proceed.
- Make eye contact with drivers to be sure you have been seen.
- Children should always tell parents where they are going on
their bikes.
-
Teach children to ride in safe areas - avoid parking lots,
paths through wooded areas, secluded areas, loose gravel and
busy roads.
-
Don’t ride beside trucks or other large
vehicles and avoid heavy traffic.
-
Look well ahead. This way you can spot problems before they
happen.
-
When you’re passing parked cars, if there’s room, ride
as though the car doors were open.
- Don’t ride too fast. When there’s a traffic jam or a lot
of pedestrians, slow down.
- Never ride with a passenger on the handle bars.
- Don't let children ride at night.
- Walk across cross-walks.
- Never pull or get pulled by another bike, vehicle,
rollerblader, etc.
- Keep hands on handlebars.
- Never wear headphones when riding a bike.
- Ride in single file.
- Avoid biking on rainy days.
- Teach children to keep feet on pedals when riding.
- Place both feet on the ground when stopped.
- Stay on the right side of the road. Do not swerve into
lanes, even if empty.
- Be aware of driveways and lanes. Look both ways and
stop before crossing. This is especially important to
teach young children when they are learning to ride on
sidewalks.
- Watch for merging paths or lanes.
- Come to a complete stop at all stop
signs and obey all other road signs.
- Walk across busy intersections with the lights as a
pedestrian.
- Bikes are considered vehicles and must follow all rules of
the road.
- Bikes are not permitted on expressways or freeways.
- Always ride in control.
- Children riding in a bicycle cart, tandem or bike seat
should also wear helmets.
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Bike Tune-up and
Tools for the Road
Before taking the first bike ride of the season,
the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) recommends a
professional tune-up. After that, a quick safety inspection before
every bike ride, to check the frame, wheels, gears, handlebars,
brakes,
seat and pedals will ensure everything is in good order.
A portable tool
kit and air pump strapped to a bike can be a
saving grace when something goes wrong during a ride.
Consider including the following items in a tool
kit:
- Spare inner tube - if travelling as a family, at least one
spare tube for each bike tire size.
- Tire irons
- Patch kit
- Money (spare change for emergency calls or a cab ride)
- Chain tool (with a few spare links)
- A set of Allen keys or a prepackaged tool kit
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Food (energy bars)
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
All of these items can be stored in a bike bag or strapped to a
bike rack,
which fits underneath the seat, over the rear tire or over the handlebars.
Prepackaged kits can also be purchased.
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Cyclist Safety
Gear
Cyclists, no matter how careful, can still be injured while
riding. Safety Gear can help reduce the severity of injuries
as a result of a fall. In addition to a helmet, which all
cyclists should wear to protect against head injury (see Bike and Bike Helmet Safety
and Tips From Safe Kids Canada to Encourage Children to Wear Helmets).
Here is a list of gear that should be worn by cyclists:
- Wear proper foot wear - running shoes and ensure laces are
done up to avoid getting caught in chain.
- Avoid pants with wide bottom legs that can get caught in
chains.
- Cycling gloves will absorb some of the impact in a fall and
reduce injury to hands.
- Reflective clothing should be worn, even during the day,
just in case the ride goes into the evening or dusk
hours.
- Bright clothing increases the chance of being seen by other
cyclists and drivers.
- Equip bike with horn, reflectors and a light.
- Have Sunglasses handy and wear them if it is sunny to
protect eyes - children too - but look for shatterproof
glasses.
- Never Race other riders or vehicles.
- Teach children to ride safely - no wheelies, keep hands and
feet on bike (unless stopping of course - when both feet
should be on the ground.
-
Apply sunscreen liberally and often - Click here to see Sun
Safety Tips.
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Links to more Bike Safety
Information
Many towns and cities have their own web site for bike safety
tips and trail maps for planning a family bike ride.
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All tips are offered as suggestions
only. While we have tried to provide you with a list
of suggestions to help parents when travelling with
children to keep them safe, unfortunately, we can’t
think of everything and it is the responsibility of
parents to ensure their children’s safety.
Some Tips are adapted from information provided by News Canada
|
Sick
Kids study shows bicycle helmet legislation leads to fewer
bicycle-related head injuries in children
Click
here for recall notice for helmets
AAA
Reminds Motorists To Be Aware of Bicyclists
For Bikes, Helmets and More go to
Click here for Travel News about Helmet
Safety
Tips From Safe Kids Canada to Encourage Children to Wear Helmets
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Safety
Click below for In-line Skating Safety
Tips
Safety News - Summer Safety Warning - Press Release from Consumer Product Safety Commission
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