Cycling to School the Safe Way
Most kids know how to ride a bike - it's fairly simple to learn, it's fun and you can go really fast. Plus there are so many benefits to having your child ride to school - exercise, fresh air, socializing, independence - it's definitely one of the best options for transportation and a great way for kids to get to school.
With that being said, while children are introduced to bicycles first as toys, they're really pieces of machinery and once taken off the playground should be considered as vehicles, just like cars or trucks.
Before your kids cycle to school for the first time, take them on the route during the weekend when there's less traffic.
Safety Considerations
As with any other vehicle, if you're going to take your bicycle on the road and interact with traffic, there are safety precautions to consider. Before your child cycles to school, even with a chaperone, here are some safety tips to think about:
- Enroll the entire family in a bicycle safety course. Not only is it a fun group activity, but everyone can always use a refresher on road safety. Also, this will you'll know exactly what your child has been taught so you can reinforce and augment traffic safety messages on your own.
- Reflectors are never enough. While they help, you must add front and rear lights to bicycles in order to ensure they'll be seen by motorists from a good distance. Include a horn or bell as well so riders can let others in the immediate vicinity know they're approaching. This is especially important during those very early and very dark winter afternoons.
- Before your kids cycle to school for the first time, take them on the route during the weekend when there's less traffic. Make sure they're comfortable with the intersections and level of traffic they'll encounter. If necessary, go a longer, more residential route to avoid major streets.
- Teach them to be extra careful as they approach school. There'll be a marked increase in car traffic, parked cars, pedestrians and other cyclists. Make sure they understand that everyone's moving at a different speed. Young kids under the age of 9 have a difficult time discerning how fast objects are moving. They may even want to dismount and walk onto school grounds.
If you're a student who cycles to school and you'd like to share any tips or stories, leave a comment below to help other users. If you're a parent who's incorporated cycling into taking their kids to school, leave your ideas and any experiences you'd like to share in a comment below.