Safe Biking with your Kids
by Vicki Lansky
Don't carry a baby under six months of age on your bike. And never use
a front-or backpack as a bike carrier; neither are safe for this purpose.
Use a well-made, sturdy carrier that mounts on the back wheel of your bike.
Carriers and Helmets
As with other baby and child equipment, it's not always a good idea to
try to save money by buying bargain or used carriers, parts may be missing
and there will probably not be proper instructions for installation or
use.
Mount the special child carrier firmly and properly on the rear wheel of
your bike. Be sure the carrier has an adequate safety harness that restrains
both the upper and lower parts of your child's body, a high back and shields
for the child's feet.
A child riding in a bike carrier should wear a helmet. Buy yourself and
your child good helmets that meet ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
standards. Kids' helmets come in sharp colors, and some have special decal
decorations. You can approach the subject of wearing a helmet as you do
that of the car seat: it's automatic; you just do it!
Make yourselves more visible by attaching a fluorescent warning flag to
the carrier, and improve your own vision of the road with a rearview helmet
mirror.
Rules of the Road
-
Ride on bike paths or lightly-traveled streets. On the road, stay to the
right, going with the traffic.
-
Use hand signals to clearly indicate your turns to drivers around you.
-
If several of you are riding together, travel in single file as you pass
others on a bike path. And for safety's sake, always ride single file in
the street.
Carry a snack, drink (for you both) and an extra diaper and have a wonderful
outing!
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Last modified: Oct 24, 1995